Saudi coalition accuses Houthis of drone attack on Medina

The Saudi-led coalition accused the Houthi group of attacking a power distribution station in Medina, one of Islam's holiest sites, on Thursday. The attack left one transformer out of service but did not disrupt the electricity network. This comes after the Houthis reported Saudi strikes on Sanaa and other parts of Yemen, although there was no immediate confirmation from Saudi Arabia.

The conflict between Saudi Arabia and the Iran-aligned Houthis has intensified since a UN-brokered truce in 2022, with both sides reporting numerous attacks and retaliations. The Saudi-led coalition stated that an investigation and examination of drone wreckage confirmed Houthi involvement in the Medina attack, which targeted the Prophet's Mosque, a site of great religious significance.

The Houthis, however, denied the accusation, calling it a lie and claiming it was intended to distract from their failure to provide evidence for a previous accusation against Mecca. The Saudi-led coalition accused the Houthis of attempting to target Mecca multiple times since 2017, while the Houthis denied targeting the holy city.

The coalition also mentioned that the Medina attack was part of what it termed repeated Houthi attempts to target the Two Holy Mosques and provoke Muslims worldwide, vowing to continue protecting the holy sites and pilgrims.