The General Secretariat of Saudi Arabia’s Council of Senior Scholars said on Wednesday that Houthi attacks endangered civilians and Muslim holy sites. It described attacks on civilians and civilian facilities in Yemen as terrorism, and accused the group of attempting to strike Mecca and Medina.

The secretariat said the danger posed by those actions was no less than that of ISIS and al-Qaeda. It went further, saying the Houthis exceeded those groups through what it described as destruction and aggression against Muslims.

Accusations over the holy cities

The statement accused the Houthis of targeting worshippers visiting the Grand Mosque in Mecca and the Prophet’s Mosque in Medina. It said attacks on people visiting those sites were particularly grave because of their religious significance.

The secretariat praised Saudi air defences and the armed forces for foiling the attempt. It did not give a date or describe the weapons used in the alleged attempt against the two cities.

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Its condemnation also covered what it described as attacks on lives and property, divisions within Yemen, and threats to security and stability. It called on Muslims to condemn the group’s actions and stand together against attacks on their holy sites.

Coalition reports six drone interceptions

Separately, the Saudi-led coalition supporting Yemen’s internationally recognised government said it intercepted and destroyed six drones on Wednesday. One was heading towards Saudi Arabia’s southern region.

The coalition said the other five were intercepted in Medina and the Eastern Province. It did not specify how many were destroyed in each area.

Saudi Arabia had previously attributed three attacks targeting Mecca and Medina to the Houthis between 2017 and 2026. Those included two attacks in September 2026 and one in 2017. The Houthis denied responsibility for those attacks.

Escalation after a period of relative calm

Saudi Arabia and the coalition have said military operations intensified from July 2026. That followed a period of relative calm associated with a truce that began in April 2022.

Yemen’s continuing war followed the Houthis’ seizure of the capital, Sana’a, and several governorates in September 2014. A Saudi-led military coalition intervened in March 2015 to support the internationally recognised Yemeni government.