Iran Defends Houthis After Saudi Arabia Says Houthi Drone Targeted Holy City Mecca

TEHRAN, Sept 17: Iran on Thursday condemned any attack or threat against Islamic holy sites, including Mecca and Medina, while disputing the basis for Saudi Arabia's attribution of a drone intercepted near Mecca (Makkah)to Yemen's Houthis.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said any attack on Islamic holy sites, particularly Mecca, Medina and Al-Aqsa Mosque, as well as threats to their visitors and residents, was condemnable.

However, Baghaei said the interception of a drone alone was insufficient to establish responsibility for the incident, noting that the Houthi-run authorities in Yemen had denied targeting Mecca.

Saudi Arabia said its air defenses intercepted and destroyed a Houthi drone south of Mecca before it entered the restricted airspace over the holy city.

The Houthis, an Iran-aligned group that controls Sanaa and large parts of northern and western Yemen, have denied targeting Mecca.

Baghaei also warned against politicizing the security of Islamic holy sites, saying the region had witnessed what he described as “many cases of false-flag operations,” and called for caution and vigilance.

The Saudi and Iranian statements come amid heightened regional tensions and continued Houthi attacks targeting Saudi Arabia.