Arab Nations Condemn Attack on Medina, Calling it a Provocation Against Islam
Gulf states and several Muslim nations have condemned a Houthi drone attack targeting the Taiba electricity distribution substation in Medina, Saudi Arabia. This facility provides electricity to Al-Masjid an-Nabawi, one of Islam’s holiest sites.
The Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Jasem Al-Budaiwi, described the attack as a serious escalation and a provocation against Muslims. “It exceeds all limits of tolerance and is a clear provocation against the sentiments of Muslims across the world,” Al-Budaiwi stated in a statement, as reported by Arab News on Friday.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain, and Kuwait issued separate condemnations regarding the attack, which Saudi authorities claim was carried out by the Iran-backed Houthi group early Tuesday morning. Al-Budaiwi emphasised that the security of Saudi Arabia and its holy sites is an inseparable part of the collective security of the GCC nations.
The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs described the attack as a “clear violation” of Saudi Arabian sovereignty and a threat to the security and stability of the Kingdom. Abu Dhabi also affirmed its “full solidarity” with Riyadh and supported Saudi Arabia’s measures to maintain its security and stability.
Bahrain also condemned the attack as a violation of international law and international humanitarian law, calling it a “dangerous escalation” that affects Islamic holy sites. Manama urged the UN Security Council to take a firm stance against repeated Houthi attacks targeting civilian infrastructure and religious sites.
Kuwait also stated that the attack on civilian infrastructure constitutes a violation of Saudi sovereignty and international law. The Kuwaiti Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasised that the security of Saudi Arabia is an inseparable part of the security of Kuwait and the GCC region.
Similar condemnations came from Jordan and Turkey. Jordan described the attack as a “clear violation” of Saudi sovereignty, while Turkey condemned the Houthi attack on the infrastructure supporting the operations of Al-Masjid an-Nabawi.
The Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen stated that investigations, including the examination of drone debris, have confirmed Houthi involvement in the planning and execution of the attack.
The incident occurred as Houthi attacks against Saudi Arabia have been on the rise, following previous attempts to launch drones towards Makkah, which were successfully intercepted.