{
  "id": 8217797,
  "title": "Houthi leader denies Yemeni group targeted Mecca with drone",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/18/houthi-leader-denies-yemeni-group-targeted-mecca-with-drone",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-18T09:31:46.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Middle East Eye",
    "slug": "middle-east-eye",
    "url": "https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/houthi-leader-denies-yemeni-group-targeted-mecca-drone"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Yemeni Houthi leader Abdul-Malik al-Houthi has vehemently denied his group's alleged targeting of the holy city of Mecca with a drone. During a televised address, al-Houthi labeled the claim as a \"major lie,\" asserting that the Houthis are committed to defending Islamic holy sites. In his speech, al-Houthi accused Israel of posing the real threat to Mecca, referring to the Zionist enemy, and vowed that the Islamic alliance would confront this threat. The Houthis recently took control of Yemen's coast near the Bab-el-Mandeb strait and attacked the East-West Pipeline, a crucial oil supply route for Saudi Arabia. The Saudi government may require five to six weeks to repair the damage following a drone attack on the pipeline, according to Reuters. The price of oil has already risen due to a Houthi offensive that granted the group control of Yemen's side of the Bab el-Mandeb, a critical Red Sea passage for Saudi oil shipments. Al-Houthi emphasized that the Houthis are in a defensive stance, emphasizing that they are not the ones initiating aggression.",
  "summary": "Houthi leader denies Yemeni group targeted Mecca with drone Submitted by MEE staff on Fri, 09/18/2026 - 09:16 Abdul-Malik al-Houthi accuses Saudi Arabia of a 'major lie' over claim of attack on holy city Yemeni supporters of the Iran-backed Houthi movement hold portraits of its leader Abdul-Malik al-Houthi during a protest against restrictions imposed by the Saudi-led coalition on…",
  "key_points": [
    "Houthi leader Abdul-Malik al-Houthi denies targeting Mecca with drone.",
    "Accuses Israel of posing threat to Mecca, vows to confront.",
    "Saudi pipeline repair may take 5-6 weeks, oil prices rise."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Ajel English",
        "title": "Yemeni media monitor: Houthi drone attack on Taif part of ongoing terrorism",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/18/yemeni-media-monitor-houthi-drone-attack-on-taif-part-of-ongoing",
        "published": "2026-09-18T07:46:19.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}