{"id":2176480,"date":"2026-10-02T08:32:15","date_gmt":"2026-10-02T05:32:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2176480"},"modified":"2026-10-02T08:32:15","modified_gmt":"2026-10-02T05:32:15","slug":"houthis-deny-saudi-accusations-of-targeting-medinas-holy-sites","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2176480","title":{"rendered":"Houthis deny Saudi accusations of targeting Medina&#8217;s holy sites"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/93\/65\/71\/1200x675_cmsv2_03758bd0-3b06-5c27-8e25-a4bf8bcbf939-9936571.jpg&#8221;]<\/p>\n<article id=\"abe-2930591-pos1-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1\" data-nid=\"2930591\" data-cid=\"9937656\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2930591-label-pos1-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/93\/76\/44\/189x106_cmsv2_8fe534ab-79e1-5bef-a561-1e6795af7a7d-9937644.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"A migrant prays in the morning on El Trampol\u00edn beach in the Spanish enclave of Ceuta on Thursday, 1 October 2026.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Europe News<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Two underage migrants stabbed in Ceuta as tensions rise\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2930604-pos2-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1\" data-nid=\"2930604\" data-cid=\"9937683\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2930604-label-pos2-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/93\/76\/83\/189x106_cmsv2_00f7d6b3-e535-5b1c-8edb-8eb2cf3dc537-9937683.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"A campaign flag depicting Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who is running for reelection, is waved during a campaign event on streets in Brasilia, Brazil.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Brazil<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    US suspends consular services in Brazil over security concerns\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2930544-pos3-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1\" data-nid=\"2930544\" data-cid=\"9937596\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2930544-label-pos3-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/93\/74\/61\/189x106_cmsv2_7125c366-13d0-570b-b116-c2a5e906db71-9937461.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Activists protest at Madrid&apos;s Puerta del Sol in Spain on Friday, 2 October 2026.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Europe News<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    S\u00e1nchez begins reflection on early election as protesters call for general strike\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2930579-pos4-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1\" data-nid=\"2930579\" data-cid=\"9937595\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2930579-label-pos4-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/93\/75\/95\/189x106_cmsv2_49c8cce4-4275-55cb-96ce-63b7bb46e628-9937595.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"A rescue worker extinguishes a fire at a residential house destroyed by a Russian airstrike in Kharkiv, Ukraine, Friday, 2 October 2026.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Europe News<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Russia &#8216;tearing Kyiv apart&#8217;, mayor says, as strikes paralyse traffic\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2930591-pos1-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2\" data-nid=\"2930591\" data-cid=\"9937656\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2930591-label-pos1-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/93\/76\/44\/189x106_cmsv2_8fe534ab-79e1-5bef-a561-1e6795af7a7d-9937644.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"A migrant prays in the morning on El Trampol\u00edn beach in the Spanish enclave of Ceuta on Thursday, 1 October 2026.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Europe News<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Two underage migrants stabbed in Ceuta as tensions rise\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2930604-pos2-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2\" data-nid=\"2930604\" data-cid=\"9937683\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2930604-label-pos2-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/93\/76\/83\/189x106_cmsv2_00f7d6b3-e535-5b1c-8edb-8eb2cf3dc537-9937683.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"A campaign flag depicting Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who is running for reelection, is waved during a campaign event on streets in Brasilia, Brazil.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Brazil<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    US suspends consular services in Brazil over security concerns\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2930544-pos3-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2\" data-nid=\"2930544\" data-cid=\"9937596\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2930544-label-pos3-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/93\/74\/61\/189x106_cmsv2_7125c366-13d0-570b-b116-c2a5e906db71-9937461.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Activists protest at Madrid&apos;s Puerta del Sol in Spain on Friday, 2 October 2026.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Europe News<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    S\u00e1nchez begins reflection on early election as protesters call for general strike\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2930579-pos4-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2\" data-nid=\"2930579\" data-cid=\"9937595\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2930579-label-pos4-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/93\/75\/95\/189x106_cmsv2_49c8cce4-4275-55cb-96ce-63b7bb46e628-9937595.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"A rescue worker extinguishes a fire at a residential house destroyed by a Russian airstrike in Kharkiv, Ukraine, Friday, 2 October 2026.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Europe News<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Russia &#8216;tearing Kyiv apart&#8217;, mayor says, as strikes paralyse traffic\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article class=\"helper-site-row o-article-newsy\">\n<div class=\"helper-site-container o-article-newsy__container\">\n<div class=\"o-article-newsy__main\">\n<header class=\"h-grid o-article-newsy__main__header\">\n<nav aria-label=\"Breadcrumbs\" class=\"c-article-breadcrumbs\">\n<div id=\"adb-article-breadcrumb\" class=\"c-article-breadcrumbs__list\">\n<p>                          News<\/p>\n<p>                          World<\/p>\n<p>                          Yemen<\/p><\/div>\n<\/nav>\n<h1 class=\"c-article-redesign-title\">\n                            Houthis deny Saudi accusations of targeting Medina&#8217;s holy sites<\/h1>\n<div class=\"c-article-image-video u-position-relative \">\n<div class=\"js-superdiv u-aspect-ratio-16x9 u-position-relative \" data-controller=\"video-player\" data-sponsored=\"Partner content\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"js-poster-img c-article-media__img\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/93\/65\/71\/1536x864_cmsv2_03758bd0-3b06-5c27-8e25-a4bf8bcbf939-9936571.jpg\" width=\"1536\" height=\"864\" loading=\"eager\" alt=\"A Houthi soldier stands in front of a banner of the Kaaba at a protest against Riyadh&apos;s accusation that the group targeted Islam&apos;s holiest site, in Sana&apos;a, 18 September 2026\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-caption u-position-absolute\"><i id=\"article-caption-content\" class=\"c-article-caption__content\"><span class=\"c-article-caption__text\"><br \/>\n              A Houthi soldier stands in front of a banner of the Kaaba at a protest against Riyadh&#8217;s accusation that the group targeted Islam&#8217;s holiest site, in Sana&#8217;a, 18 September 2026<br \/>\n                    <span class=\"u-color-white\">&#8211;\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"c-article-caption__copyright\">Copyright\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"c-article-caption__credit\">AP Photo<\/span><\/span><\/i><\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-image-copyright c-article-image-copyright--novideo\">\n      Copyright\u00a0AP Photo\n  <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"h-grid o-article-newsy__main__body u-article-content\">\n<div class=\"o-article-newsy__contributors-publication-date\">\n<div class=\"c-article-contributors\">\n  By&amp;nbspAleksandar Brezar\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-publication-date\" data-timestamp=\"1790929935\">\n         Published on<br \/>\n            <time datetime=\"2026-10-02 10:32:15 +02:00\">02\/10\/2026 &#8211; 10:32 GMT+2<\/time><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-share-comment u-align-items-center u-display-flex\"><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__links u-align-items-center u-display-flex u-justify-content-center js-c-article-share-comment-share\"><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__label\">Share<\/span><\/span><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__label\">Comments<\/span><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__label c-article-share-comment__label--always\">Add Euronews on Google<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-share-comment-popup-overlay js-c-article-share-comment-popup-overlay u-display-none\">\n<div id=\"js-c-article-share-comment-popup\" class=\"c-article-share-comment-popup js-c-article-share-comment-popup\">\n<div class=\"c-article-share-comment-popup__header u-display-flex\"><span>Share<\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/icon-close.svg\" 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u-gap-1 u-show-for-mobile-only\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-whatsapp.svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" alt=\"whatsapp\" loading=\"lazy\"><span>Whatsapp<\/span><\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-whatsapp.svg\" width=\"48\" height=\"48\" alt=\"whatsapp\" class=\"u-show-for-desktop\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2 class=\"c-article-summary\">\n        The Saudi-led coalition said a drone hit the Taibah electricity distribution station, which supplies power to the Prophet&#8217;s Mosque, one of Islam&#8217;s holiest sites. The Houthis denied the claim, stating it was a &#8220;lie&#8221; to back previous allegations against the group.<br \/>\n    <\/h2>\n<div class=\"c-article-content js-article-content\">\n<p>The Saudi-led coalition accused Yemen&#8217;s Houthis of striking a power station in the holy city of Medina in Saudi Arabia, a claim the Iran-backed group denied.<\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"c-ad u-show-for-mobile-only\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt loading=\"lazy\"><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-ad u-show-for-desktop\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt loading=\"lazy\"><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>The alleged attack came as fighting intensified in Yemen, where forces of the internationally recognised government said they carried out attacks on Houthi targets and witnesses heard explosions in the Houthi-held capital Sana&#8217;a.<\/p>\n<p>The Saudi-led coalition said on Thursday a drone struck Medina&#8217;s Taibah electricity distribution station, which provides power to the Prophet&#8217;s Mosque.<\/p>\n<p>Medina, the burial place of the Prophet Mohammed and home to the Prophet&#8217;s Mosque, is one of Islam&#8217;s holiest cities alongside Mecca.<\/p>\n<p>Coalition spokesman Major General Turki al-Maliki said a drone struck the Taibah electricity distribution station at 5:11 am (3:11 am CEST) on Tuesday.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;The investigation and evidence gathered by the competent authorities have confirmed the involvement of the terrorist Houthi militia in planning and executing this cowardly terrorist act, based on after-action review and the wreckage of the drone used,&#8221; he said in a statement.<\/p>\n<p>The coalition said one transformer was taken out of service without affecting the wider electricity network. Al-Maliki said the facility supplied electricity to the Prophet&#8217;s Mosque.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;This cowardly terrorist act, targeting a civilian facility providing electricity to the Prophet&#8217;s Mosque in Medina, is a continuation of this extremist militia&#8217;s attempts to target the Two Holy Mosques,&#8221; he said.<\/p>\n<p>On Thursday, a senior Houthi official again rejected allegations that the movement had targeted Islamic holy sites, stating they were a &#8220;lie&#8221; to further back previous claims, according to Houthi-run news agency Saba.<\/p>\n<p>The group had firmly rejected Riyadh&#8217;s accusations in mid-September of a drone attack on Mecca, Islam&#8217;s holiest site.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Our operations target its oil facilities and military bases, which are far removed from the sacred sites,&#8221; Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree said at the time, adding that &#8220;fabrications and lies propagated by the criminal al-Saud regime cannot deceive anyone.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Mecca is Islam&#8217;s holiest site, home to the Kaaba \u2014 which Muslims worldwide turn toward for prayer \u2014 and the destination of the Hajj pilgrimage, one of the faith&#8217;s Five Pillars or main tenets.<\/p>\n<p>The accusation came as fighting intensified in Yemen, as the internationally recognised government&#8217;s military said it had carried out strikes on Houthi targets in Sana&#8217;a, Saada and Taiz.<\/p>\n<p>A spokesman said the military had conducted a &#8220;high-value targeting operation&#8221; in Sana&#8217;a and struck 11 targets in Saada.<\/p>\n<p>He added that 27 air strikes had targeted an &#8220;integrated military system&#8221; belonging to the Houthis in Taiz.<\/p>\n<p>The Houthis, who control Sana&#8217;a and much of Yemen&#8217;s Red Sea coast, have repeatedly launched drones and missiles at Saudi Arabia since the kingdom intervened in Yemen&#8217;s civil war in 2015. <\/p>\n<p>Any confirmed attack on either Mecca or Medina would put the perpetrators beyond the pale in the eyes of virtually the entire Muslim world, Shia and Sunni alike.<\/p>\n<h2>Ankara blasts &#8216;provocative attacks&#8217;<\/h2>\n<p>Turkey strongly condemned the alleged attack and voiced support for Saudi Arabia.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;We strongly condemn the Houthis&#8217; attack on civilian infrastructure&#8221; in Medina, the foreign ministry said.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;These provocative attacks, which threaten Saudi Arabia&#8217;s sovereignty and security and target the sacred values of the Islamic world, must cease immediately and unconditionally.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Turkey said it reiterated its &#8220;strong support for Saudi Arabia&#8221; and called for steps to prevent further escalation.<\/p>\n<p>Qatar also condemned the attack. In a statement, Doha said it was &#8220;a grave assault on the sanctity of Islamic holy sites&#8221;, a violation of Saudi sovereignty and international law.<\/p>\n<p>It reaffirmed its &#8220;full solidarity&#8221; with Riyadh and said the kingdom&#8217;s security was integral to Gulf security.<\/p>\n<div class=\"c-widget-related\" data-stories-id data-event=\"widget_related\">\n<div class=\"c-widget-related__title\"><b class=\"c-widget-related__title__text\" lang=\"en\">Related<\/b><\/div>\n<ul class=\"c-widget-related__list\" id=\"abe-article-related-1\">\n<li class=\"c-widget-related__item\">Yemen&#8217;s Houthis claim they shot down Saudi fighter jet, deny targeting Mecca<\/li>\n<li class=\"c-widget-related__item\">Yemen&#8217;s Houthis pledge not to target US ships after Trump cancels strikes<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<p>The League of Arab States joined the condemnation, calling the attack &#8220;an unacceptable transgression&#8221;.<\/p>\n<p>The organisation said the attack &#8220;provokes the sentiments of Muslims worldwide&#8221; and represented a dangerous escalation.<\/p>\n<p>Al-Azhar, the Cairo-based institute of Sunni Islamic learning, also denounced the incident, stating that &#8220;targeting Medina provokes the sentiments of Muslims worldwide&#8221;.<\/p>\n<p>The Houthis are Zaydi Shia Muslims, a specific branch of Islam historically rooted in northern Yemen that is theologically distinct from both the Twelver Shia Islam dominant in Iran and Saudi Arabia&#8217;s Wahhabi-influenced Sunni tradition.<\/p>\n<p>The group formally known as Ansar Allah is tied to Tehran&#8217;s so-called Axis of Resistance \u2014 a loose network of militant groups in several countries in the region including Hezbollah in Lebanon, Hamas in Gaza and militias in Iraq, all backed, trained and equipped by the IRGC to varying degrees.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<footer class=\"perf-cv-auto c-article-contributors c-article-contributors-supplementary u-margin-top-2 u-padding-top-2\">\n<p>Additional sources<strong> \u2022 AFP<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/footer>\n<p>                                  Go to accessibility shortcuts<\/p>\n<div class=\"c-article-share-comment u-align-items-center u-display-flex\"><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__links u-align-items-center u-display-flex u-justify-content-center js-c-article-share-comment-share\"><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__label\">Share<\/span><\/span><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__label\">Comments<\/span><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__label c-article-share-comment__label--always\">Add Euronews on Google<\/span><\/div>\n<div id=\"adb-article-you-might-also-like\" class=\"perf-cv-auto c-article-you-might-also-like\">\n<h2 class=\"c-article-you-might-also-like__title\">\n        Read more<br \/>\n      <\/h2>\n<div class=\"c-article-you-might-also-like__item\">\n<h3>\n<p>                  Seven killed, dozens hurt in Saudi airstrike on Yemen market<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-you-might-also-like__item\">\n<h3>\n<p>                  G7 leaders call on Yemen&#8217;s Houthis to stop strikes on Saudi Arabia<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-you-might-also-like__item\">\n<h3>\n<p>                  Yemen&#8217;s Houthis pledge not to target US ships after Trump cancels strikes<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"perf-cv-auto\">\n<ul id=\"adb-article-tags\" class=\"c-tags-list\">\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<section class=\"tc-cta\" data-twig-component=\"Cta-default\">\n  Saudi Arabia<br \/>\n<\/section>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<section class=\"tc-cta\" data-twig-component=\"Cta-default\">\n  Yemen<br \/>\n<\/section>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<section class=\"tc-cta\" data-twig-component=\"Cta-default\">\n  Houthis<br \/>\n<\/section>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<section class=\"tc-cta\" data-twig-component=\"Cta-default\">\n  Mecca<br \/>\n<\/section>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tp-vuukle\">\n<div class=\"c-vuukle-skeleton\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<div class=\"c-vuukle-skeleton__header\"><span class=\"c-vuukle-skeleton__title\">Comments<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<aside class=\"o-article-newsy__aside\">\n<div class=\"c-ad-wrapper o-article-newsy__aside__content-1\" data-ad-name=\"adzone-halfpage\">\n<div class=\"c-ad c-ad-halfpage u-show-for-desktop\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-ad u-show-for-mobile-only\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" 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the sidelines of the G7 summit, Monday, June , in Evian-les-Bains, France.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    G7 agrees 100 million-barrel emergency oil release amid US pressure<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-top-stories__item\">\n<article id=\"abe-2930423-pos3-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 the-media-object--has-video the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2930423\" data-cid=\"9937359\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2930423-label-pos3-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/93\/64\/82\/320x180_cmsv2_bacc2542-fa35-5a2c-ae5a-e041ea804a95-9936482.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Spanish Prime Minister Pedro S\u00e1nchez addresses the Congress of Deputies.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Spanish lawmakers reject government housing measure amid protests<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-top-stories__item\">\n<article id=\"abe-2930579-pos4-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2930579\" data-cid=\"9937595\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2930579-label-pos4-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/93\/75\/95\/320x180_cmsv2_49c8cce4-4275-55cb-96ce-63b7bb46e628-9937595.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"A rescue worker extinguishes a fire at a residential house destroyed by a Russian airstrike in Kharkiv, Ukraine, Friday, 2 October 2026.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div 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data-nid=\"2930349\" data-cid=\"9937013\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    T-shirts not winter coats: What a warm October reveals about winter<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2929918-pos5-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 the-media-object--has-video the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2929918\" data-cid=\"9933987\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    How the EU\u2019s new cabin baggage rules will work \u2013 and when they start<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<div class=\"articleBody\" data-key=\"articleBody\">The Saudi-led coalition accused Yemen&#8217;s Houthis of striking a power station in the holy city of Medina in Saudi Arabia, a claim the Iran-backed group denied.The alleged attack came as fighting intensified in Yemen, where forces of the internationally recognised government said they carried out attacks on Houthi targets and witnesses heard explosions in the Houthi-held capital Sana&#8217;a.The Saudi-led coalition said on Thursday a drone struck Medina&#8217;s Taibah electricity distribution station, which provides power to the Prophet&#8217;s Mosque.Medina, the burial place of the Prophet Mohammed and home to the Prophet&#8217;s Mosque, is one of Islam&#8217;s holiest cities alongside Mecca.Coalition spokesman Major General Turki al-Maliki said a drone struck the Taibah electricity distribution station at 5:11 am (3:11 am CEST) on Tuesday.&#8221;The investigation and evidence gathered by the competent authorities have confirmed the involvement of the terrorist Houthi militia in planning and executing this cowardly terrorist act, based on after-action review and the wreckage of the drone used,&#8221; he said in a statement.The coalition said one transformer was taken out of service without affecting the wider electricity network. Al-Maliki said the facility supplied electricity to the Prophet&#8217;s Mosque.&#8221;This cowardly terrorist act, targeting a civilian facility providing electricity to the Prophet&#8217;s Mosque in Medina, is a continuation of this extremist militia&#8217;s attempts to target the Two Holy Mosques,&#8221; he said.On Thursday, a senior Houthi official again rejected allegations that the movement had targeted Islamic holy sites, stating they were a &#8220;lie&#8221; to further back previous claims, according to Houthi-run news agency Saba.The group had firmly rejected Riyadh&#8217;s accusations in mid-September of a drone attack on Mecca, Islam&#8217;s holiest site.&#8221;Our operations target its oil facilities and military bases, which are far removed from the sacred sites,&#8221; Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree said at the time, adding that &#8220;fabrications and lies propagated by the criminal al-Saud regime cannot deceive anyone.&#8221;Mecca is Islam&#8217;s holiest site, home to the Kaaba \u2014 which Muslims worldwide turn toward for prayer \u2014 and the destination of the Hajj pilgrimage, one of the faith&#8217;s Five Pillars or main tenets.The accusation came as fighting intensified in Yemen, as the internationally recognised government&#8217;s military said it had carried out strikes on Houthi targets in Sana&#8217;a, Saada and Taiz.A spokesman said the military had conducted a &#8220;high-value targeting operation&#8221; in Sana&#8217;a and struck 11 targets in Saada.He added that 27 air strikes had targeted an &#8220;integrated military system&#8221; belonging to the Houthis in Taiz.The Houthis, who control Sana&#8217;a and much of Yemen&#8217;s Red Sea coast, have repeatedly launched drones and missiles at Saudi Arabia since the kingdom intervened in Yemen&#8217;s civil war in 2015.Any confirmed attack on either Mecca or Medina would put the perpetrators beyond the pale in the eyes of virtually the entire Muslim world, Shia and Sunni alike.Ankara blasts &#8216;provocative attacks&#8217;Turkey strongly condemned the alleged attack and voiced support for Saudi Arabia.&#8221;We strongly condemn the Houthis&#8217; attack on civilian infrastructure&#8221; in Medina, the foreign ministry said.&#8221;These provocative attacks, which threaten Saudi Arabia&#8217;s sovereignty and security and target the sacred values of the Islamic world, must cease immediately and unconditionally.&#8221;Turkey said it reiterated its &#8220;strong support for Saudi Arabia&#8221; and called for steps to prevent further escalation.Qatar also condemned the attack. In a statement, Doha said it was &#8220;a grave assault on the sanctity of Islamic holy sites&#8221;, a violation of Saudi sovereignty and international law.It reaffirmed its &#8220;full solidarity&#8221; with Riyadh and said the kingdom&#8217;s security was integral to Gulf security.The League of Arab States joined the condemnation, calling the attack &#8220;an unacceptable transgression&#8221;.The organisation said the attack &#8220;provokes the sentiments of Muslims worldwide&#8221; and represented a dangerous escalation.Al-Azhar, the Cairo-based institute of Sunni Islamic learning, also denounced the incident, stating that &#8220;targeting Medina provokes the sentiments of Muslims worldwide&#8221;.The Houthis are Zaydi Shia Muslims, a specific branch of Islam historically rooted in northern Yemen that is theologically distinct from both the Twelver Shia Islam dominant in Iran and Saudi Arabia&#8217;s Wahhabi-influenced Sunni tradition.The group formally known as Ansar Allah is tied to Tehran&#8217;s so-called Axis of Resistance \u2014 a loose network of militant groups in several countries in the region including Hezbollah in Lebanon, Hamas in Gaza and militias in Iraq, all backed, trained and equipped by the IRGC to varying degrees.<\/div>\n<p>[analyse_source url=&#8221;https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2026\/10\/02\/houthis-deny-saudi-accusations-of-targeting-medinas-holy-sites&#8221;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/93\/65\/71\/1200x675_cmsv2_03758bd0-3b06-5c27-8e25-a4bf8bcbf939-9936571.jpg&#8221;] Europe News Two underage migrants stabbed in Ceuta as tensions rise Brazil US suspends consular services in Brazil over security concerns Europe News S\u00e1nchez begins reflection on early election as protesters call for general strike Europe News Russia &#8216;tearing Kyiv apart&#8217;, mayor says, as strikes paralyse traffic Europe News Two underage migrants [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[90],"tags":[226,36],"class_list":["post-2176480","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-international","tag-crawlmanager","tag-euronews-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2176480","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2176480"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2176480\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2176480"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2176480"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2176480"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}