{
  "id": 9668416,
  "title": "Saudi Grand Mufti tells troops to be ready to sacrifice their lives fighting Houthis",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/25/saudi-grand-mufti-tells-troops-to-be-ready-to-sacrifice-their-lives",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-25T00:46:30.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Al-Monitor",
    "slug": "al-monitor",
    "url": "https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2026/09/saudi-grand-mufti-tells-troops-be-ready-sacrifice-their-lives-fighting-houthis"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": null,
  "summary": "Saudi Arabia's top religious authority, Grand Mufti Sheikh Saleh bin Fawzan Al-Fawzan, has called on soldiers stationed at the country's borders to be prepared to sacrifice their lives to fight against the Iran-backed Houthis. According to Al-Monitor, the statement was posted on the Saudi state news agency and drew heavily on Quranic verses and recorded sayings of the Prophet Mohammad related to sacrifice and struggle in defence of God.\n\nThe Grand Mufti's message, as reported by Saudi Gazette, urged Coalition forces and Saudi soldiers to stand united against the Houthi group, which he described as a \"band of evil\" and a \"plot of the enemies\". He emphasized the importance of restoring legitimate government in Yemen, allowing the Yemeni people to live in safety, security, and stability.\n\nThe Grand Mufti's statement was strongly worded, with Saudi Gazette reporting that he described the Houthis as a group that declares the Prophet's Companions to be infidels, deems the blood of Muslims permissible, and sacrileges their mosques by demolishing and destroying them.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 4,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Saudi Gazette",
        "title": "Grand Mufti urges front-line soldiers to stand united in repelling Houthi attacks",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/24/grand-mufti-urges-front-line-soldiers-to-stand-united-in-repelling",
        "published": "2026-09-24T21:58:04.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "France 24",
        "title": "Saudi reports fresh Houthi attacks as France pledges to defend key oil port",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/24/saudi-reports-fresh-houthi-attacks-as-france-pledges-to-defend-key",
        "published": "2026-09-24T23:34:29.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Saudi Grand Mufti tells troops to be ready to sacrifice their lives fighting Houthis",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/25/saudi-grand-mufti-tells-troops-to-be-ready-to-sacrifice-their-lives-9674400",
        "published": "2026-09-25T00:41:08.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}