ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The Muslim World League (MWL) on Saturday condemned ballistic missile attacks blamed on Yemen's Houthi group targeting the Saudi cities of Mecca and Medina, accusing the group of violating the sanctity of Islam's holiest sites and provoking Muslims worldwide.
Saudi authorities said on Saturday that air defenses had intercepted two ballistic missiles launched by the Houthis toward Mecca and Medina, with debris from the interceptions falling in several locations across western Saudi Arabia.
The MWL, a Mecca-based international Islamic organization, described the attacks as a continuation of Houthi aggression against Saudi Arabia, saying they had extended to areas housing Islam's two holiest mosques.
The MWL Secretary-General Mohammed bin Abdulkarim al-Issa was cited in the statement as denouncing the strikes as a "dangerous provocation to the sentiments of more than two billion Muslims" and a violation of Islamic values and basic humanitarian principles.
Mecca is home to the Grand Mosque, which houses the Kaaba, Islam's most sacred site, while Medina is home to the Prophet's Mosque, where the Prophet Muhammed is buried. The two cities attract millions of Muslim pilgrims and visitors annually, particularly during the Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages.
The Houthis, who control much of northern Yemen, including the capital Sanaa, have repeatedly launched ballistic missiles and drones toward Saudi Arabia over the past decade, targeting airports, oil installations and other infrastructure.
The Iran-backed group has previously faced accusations of launching missiles toward Mecca and Medina. The Houthis have denied targeting the holy cities, maintaining that their operations were directed at military or economic targets.
Saudi Arabia led a military coalition into Yemen in March 2015 to support the internationally recognized government after the Houthis seized Sanaa the previous year. The conflict killed tens of thousands of people and triggered one of the world's worst humanitarian crises.
A UN-brokered truce in April 2022 significantly reduced cross-border attacks and large-scale fighting, although efforts to secure a lasting political settlement have remained fragile.
The latest incident comes amid heightened regional tensions and renewed concerns over the security of Saudi Arabia and the wider Gulf region.
