Saudi coalition says Houthis attacked station in Medina — Dawn

The Saudi-led coalition said that the Houthis attacked an electricity distribution station in Medina, Saudi Arabia, this week. According to the coalition, one transformer was put out of service as a result of the strike, but the power grid’s operation was not disrupted.

As Dawn reports, the coalition said that an investigation and examination of drone debris confirmed the Houthis’ involvement in planning and carrying out the attack on Tuesday. It said the station supplies electricity to the Prophet’s Mosque.

Houthis deny allegations

A Houthi military source cited by the group-controlled Saba agency rejected the accusations and called them lies. It said that Saudi Arabia was allegedly trying to divert attention from the lack of evidence for previous claims that the Houthis had targeted Mecca.

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Two weeks earlier, Saudi Arabia reported intercepting and destroying a Houthi drone south of Mecca before it entered the restricted airspace over the city. The coalition called this the second case of an attempted Houthi attack on Mecca since 2017. The Houthis denied targeting Mecca or other Islamic holy sites.

Escalation of confrontation

The coalition also said that the incident in Medina was part of what it described as repeated Houthi attempts to attack the Two Holy Mosques and provoke Muslims around the world. It said it intended to continue taking measures to protect the holy sites and pilgrims.

According to Dawn, the current escalation has become the most serious flare-up between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis since the UN-mediated truce, which largely halted cross-border attacks in 2022. Hostilities resumed this year after the Houthis announced a maritime blockade of Saudi Arabia in July. Saudi Arabia responded with airstrikes in Yemen and supported government forces fighting the Houthis.