Houthis Reject Allegation of Attack on Holy Makkah
Yemen’s Houthi group has rejected an allegation by the Saudi-led military coalition that it attempted to attack the holy city of Makkah. Houthi official Hazem al-Asad described the claim as an old, baseless falsehood.
In a message posted on social media platform X on Wednesday (September 16), Hazem al-Asad said the claim of targeting Makkah was an old falsehood that had been used before. Such claims, he said, could no longer mislead anyone.
Earlier, the Saudi-led coalition claimed that a drone launched by Yemen’s Houthis was shot down south of Makkah on Tuesday evening. According to coalition spokesperson Turki al-Maliki, Saudi air defence forces destroyed the drone before it entered the restricted airspace of the holy city.
The coalition claimed that this was the Houthis’ second attempt to target Makkah. The Houthis were also accused of launching a ballistic missile towards Makkah in July 2017. However, the Houthis have denied the latest allegation as well.
According to Houthi official Hazem al-Asad, the allegation of an attack targeting Makkah or any holy site is baseless. There is therefore a clear contradiction between the two sides’ accounts regarding the drone’s target and the purpose of the alleged attack.
Meanwhile, security alerts have been issued in various parts of Saudi Arabia following the allegation concerning Makkah. In recent times, the conflict between the Houthis and the Saudi-led coalition has also intensified again.
Sources: Middle East Eye, Reuters
