Saudi coalition accuses Houthis of striking power station serving Prophet’s Mosque

The Saudi-led military coalition accused Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi militia on Thursday of executing a targeted drone attack against an electricity distribution station in Medina that provides power to the Prophet's Mosque, prompting swift condemnation across the Muslim world.

What occurred during the drone attack on the Medina power facility?

According to coalition spokesman Major General Turki al-Maliki, a drone struck the Taibah electricity distribution station in Medina at 5:11 AM on Tuesday, September 29. Forensic analysis of drone wreckage recovered from the site and an after-action operational review confirmed the direct involvement of Houthi forces in planning and executing the strike.

The attack knocked one power transformer out of service but did not disrupt the wider electrical grid or interrupt power supplies to the Prophet's Mosque. Coalition officials condemned the assault as a "cowardly terrorist act" aimed at civilian infrastructure servicing one of Islam's holiest sites. A senior Houthi military source quoted by the Houthi-aligned Saba news agency rejected the accusations, calling the claims a "baseless lie" intended to mask coalition military actions.

How have regional allies and Islamic institutions reacted to the incident?

The reported strike on Medina triggered widespread international condemnation and coincided with intensified military action across Yemen.

Turkey’s Foreign Ministry strongly denounced the attack as a grave violation of Saudi sovereignty and an assault on Islamic values. Qatar, the League of Arab States, and Cairo’s Al-Azhar Institute also issued statements condemning the strike, saying it provoked the sentiments of Muslims worldwide and posed a threat to Gulf security.

Following the incident, coalition and Yemeni government forces launched retaliatory strikes against Houthi military positions across Yemen. The airstrikes reportedly targeted command centers, air defense systems, and weapons depots in Sanaa, Saada, and Taiz.

According to Al Arabiya, Saudi air defense forces remain on high alert across the kingdom's western and southern provinces amid ongoing cross-border missile and drone interceptions.