Pakistan condemns Houthi attacks near Mecca, Medina

Pakistan on Monday condemned Houthi ballistic missile attacks on Saudi Arabia, including areas near Mecca and Medina, in a Foreign Office statement. Islamabad called the Oct. 24 strikes a grave violation of Saudi sovereignty and pledged continued support for the kingdom's defense of Islam's holiest sites.

What did Pakistan say about the Houthi attacks near Mecca and Medina?

The Foreign Office called the strikes a grave violation of Saudi Arabia's sovereignty and territorial integrity. Pakistan reaffirmed its solidarity with the kingdom and its commitment to the Mecca Alliance, and praised Saudi air defense forces for their vigilance in countering the missiles.

Pakistan said the attacks showed a blatant disregard for the sanctity of Islam's holiest sites and the safety of civilians. It described its solidarity with Riyadh as unwavering and its commitment to the alliance as firm.

The Foreign Office said Islamabad would keep supporting the kingdom's security, stability and defense against any external aggression or threat, including efforts to protect the Two Holy Mosques. Pakistan also commended the efficiency of Saudi air defense forces and reaffirmed that it stands alongside Riyadh.

What happened in the Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia?

The condemnation followed reports of Houthi attacks on Saudi oil facilities and airports a day earlier. The Saudi-led coalition fighting the Yemen-based group said it had intercepted two ballistic missiles as clashes between the sides intensified.

The coalition said it destroyed two ballistic missiles fired toward Yanbu and Taif. Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree said the group had targeted King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, an Aramco facility in Yanbu and the Rabigh oil refinery.

Saree also listed crude oil pumping stations and the East-West Pipeline among the targets. He said the group had hit King Fahd International Airport in Dammam, an airport in Najran and an airbase in Khamis Mushait.

Did Houthi missiles land near Mecca and Medina?

Saudi Civil Defense reported that debris from intercepted missiles had fallen in the Mecca and Medina regions. Fragments landed in Wadi al-Mughammas in Mecca, as well as in areas of Jeddah, Taif and Rabigh.

The Houthis denied targeting Mecca and Medina, saying their operations were directed at "Saudi oil facilities and military bases," Al Jazeera reported. The group did not address the debris reported in the two regions.

The renewed fighting has shattered a United Nations-brokered truce reached in 2022. That truce had largely halted cross-border attacks between the Saudi-led coalition, which backs Yemen's internationally recognized government, and the Houthis, who control the capital, Sanaa.