Conflict & Security
Saudi forces intercept Houthi drone bound for Mecca; Grand Mosque imam condemns attack
September 18, 2026 at 12:57 PM · Updated 28d ago
Coverage
4 reports · over 5 hours
MAMasrawy
الحوثي ينفي استهداف مكة: "بهتان عظيم وأرواحنا وحياتنا وأموالنا فداءً لها"
(opens the publisher’s site)
يواليوم السابع
خطيب المسجد الحرام: من يجرؤ على استهداف بيت الله الحرام ومسجد نبيه لا يمت للإسلام بصلة - اليوم السابع
(opens the publisher’s site)
MAMasrawy
خطيب الحرام: استباحة دماء المسلمين أشد حرمة عند الله من الكعبة المشرّفة
(opens the publisher’s site)MAMasrawy
خطيب المسجد الحرام: استباحة دماء المسلمين أشد حرمة عند الله من الكعبة المشرّفة
(opens the publisher’s site)Saudi air defenses destroyed a Houthi-launched drone approaching Mecca, as the Grand Mosque's imam condemned the attempted attack in his Friday sermon.
- Coalition spokesman Maj. Gen. Turki al-Maliki said Saudi air defenses intercepted and destroyed a Houthi drone south of Mecca before it entered the city's prohibited airspace.
- Al-Maliki said the interception was the second attempt to target Mecca, following a ballistic missile fired on July 27, 2017.
- Al-Maliki said the security of the Two Holy Mosques is a red line and the coalition will not hesitate to take deterrent action against the Houthi militia.
- Grand Mosque imam Sheikh Dr. Bandar Baleelah said in his Friday sermon that whoever targets the Holy House of God and the Prophet's Mosque has no connection to Islam.
- Grand Mosque imam Sheikh Dr. Bandar Baleelah described the Houthi attack on Islamic holy sites in Mecca and Medina, including mosques, schools and property, as a criminal act stripped of religious and human values.
- Baleelah warned in his Friday sermon that violating the sanctity of Muslims' blood is more forbidden in the sight of God than the holy Kaaba.
- Houthi leader Abdulmalik al-Houthi denied targeting Mecca, calling the accusation a 'great slander' and announcing a massive Friday rally to protest it.