Saudi Arabia’s King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud has formally designated the Yemen-based Houthi movement as a “terrorist militia,” accusing the Iran-aligned faction of repeatedly attempting to strike the holy city of Mecca. The 90-year-old monarch issued these remarks during a cabinet session this past Tuesday.
King Salman described the alleged attempts to target Islam’s holiest site as a “heinous crime” and a direct affront to Muslims worldwide. This development marks the first time in nearly a decade that a security alert has been triggered in Mecca. The kingdom recently stated that it intercepted a drone directed toward the city, an assertion the Houthis have vehemently rejected, with their leader, Abdel-Malik al-Houthi, dismissing the claim as a “heinous lie.”
Beyond the tension surrounding the holy sites, regional security remains a primary concern. On Saturday, Saudi-led coalition forces reported intercepting a ballistic missile launched by the Houthis toward Riyadh. The incident resulted in visible smoke rising from a fuel storage facility near King Khalid International Airport. In response, King Salman praised the Saudi military and security apparatus for their efforts in defending the nation’s infrastructure, pilgrims, and residents.
The monarch also referenced recent diplomatic engagements, including meetings between Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi in Cairo, as well as high-level talks with French President Emmanuel Macron. These discussions focused on bolstering regional stability and securing maritime navigation corridors.
The conflict has expanded significantly as Houthi forces increased their control over Yemen’s Red Sea coastline, a critical route for Saudi oil exports following the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. These attacks on energy infrastructure and urban centers represent a major escalation in a conflict that has intensified since the onset of hostilities between Iran, the United States, and Israel in February.
Amid these security threats, Saudi Arabia reinforced its regional defense posture last month by signing the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement alongside Turkiye and Pakistan. This pact stipulates that an armed aggression against any member state will be considered an attack on all three signatories. The report also notes that the official Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported, the 90-year-old Saudi monarch made the comments during a cabinet meeting on Tuesday. The report also notes that home to the Kaaba, Islam’s holiest site, it was the first time in nearly 10 years that a security alert had been activated in Mecca. The report also notes that as most day-to-day affairs are led by his son, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, it was a rare sharp intervention in current affairs by the king.
