King Salman of Saudi Arabia condemns Houthi attacks on Mecca

Saudi Arabia’s King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud has labeled Yemen’s Houthi movement a “terrorist militia” and accused the group of targeting the holy city of Mecca. The king made these remarks during a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, as reported by the official Saudi Press Agency (SPA). This intervention is notable as King Salman typically delegates day-to-day affairs to his son, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Recent Houthi attacks have posed significant security threats to Saudi Arabia. King Salman described the alleged Houthi targeting of Mecca as a “heinous crime” and a provocation against Muslim sentiment globally. Last week, Saudi Arabia intercepted a drone launched by the Houthis towards Mecca, which the Houthis denied, with their leader Abdel-Malik al-Houthi calling the Saudi claims “a heinous lie.” This incident marked the first security alert in nearly a decade in Mecca, home to the Kaaba, Islam’s holiest site. The king praised the military and security services for their efforts in defending the homeland and protecting holy sites, pilgrims, citizens, and residents. He also referenced a meeting between Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi in Cairo, along with discussions with French President Emmanuel Macron regarding regional stability and maritime security. Houthi missile and drone attacks have increasingly targeted Saudi cities and energy infrastructure, contributing to the broader regional conflict that escalated following the U.S. and Israel's actions against Iran in February. On Saturday, Saudi-led coalition forces reported intercepting a ballistic missile fired by the Houthis towards Riyadh, which caused smoke to rise from a fuel storage area at King Khalid International Airport. The situation has implications for global energy supplies, as Houthi forces have gained control over Yemen’s Red Sea coast, a critical route for Saudi oil exports amid the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. In response to rising regional tensions, Saudi Arabia, Turkiye, and Pakistan signed the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement last month, which stipulates that an armed attack on any member is considered an attack on all three.