Islamic nations, leagues condemn attempted Houthi attacks on Mecca

• Saudi Arabia said it intercepted a Houthi drone south of Mecca, prompting condemnations from the OIC, Muslim World League, Pakistan, Jordan, Kuwait, Bangladesh and Malaysia over attacks threatening Saudi territory and holy sites.
• The OIC and MWL said the attacks violated the sanctity of Mecca and Madinah, while several countries reaffirmed solidarity with Saudi Arabia and support for protecting the holy sites.

Islamic nations issued multiple condemnations Wednesday after Saudi Arabia accused Yemen's Houthis of attempting to strike Mecca, Islam's holiest city, with the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation and the Muslim World League both denouncing the incident as a "heinous" assault on the sanctity of Islam's holy sites.

Read more: Houthis deny drone was aimed at Mecca

What happened

On the night of Sep. 15–16, 2026, Saudi Arabia said its air defenses intercepted a Houthi drone south of Mecca before it could reach the airspace over Islam's holiest city.

Saudi-led coalition spokesman Maj. Gen. Turki al-Maliki called it the second time the Houthis have tried to strike Mecca, after a 2017 ballistic-missile attempt, and described the episode as a "black mark" in the group's record, accusing it of deliberately trying to provoke Muslims worldwide.

Civil defense sirens briefly sounded over Mecca, Jeddah and Taif, reportedly the first such alert issued for Mecca since the wider regional war began, before being lifted.

Jordan

Jordan's government condemned the wider wave of Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, with Foreign Ministry spokesperson Fuad Al-Majali reaffirming Jordan's full solidarity with the kingdom and describing the strikes as “a flagrant violation” of Saudi sovereignty.

دانت وزارة الخارجية وشؤون المغتربين محاولة استهداف مكة المكرمة بطائرة مسيّرة أطلقتها ميليشيا الحوثي؛ انتهاكًا سافرًا لسيادة المملكة العربية السعودية الشقيقة، وتهديدًا لأمنها واستقرارها وسلامة أراضيها، وخرقًا صارخًا للقانون الدولي، واعتداءً مرفوضًا يمثل استهانةً بمكانة وقدسية مكة… pic.twitter.com/mpPsh5zsp4

— وزارة الخارجية وشؤون المغتربين الأردنية (@ForeignMinistry) September 16, 2026

The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation

The OIC General Secretariat Condemns the Houthi Attacks on Makkah and the Madinah Region#OIC #Makkah #Madinah #SaudiArabia #Houthi pic.twitter.com/nQaz3CF2ol

— OIC (@OIC_OCI) September 15, 2026

The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) condemned the Houthi attacks, saying they “violated the sanctity of Makkah and Madinah” and threatened civilian areas.

The group described attacks affecting holy sites and places of worship as terrorism and called for measures to prevent further harm, while expressing solidarity with Saudi Arabia and support for its efforts to protect the holy sites and its national security.

The Muslim World League

Statement from the Muslim World League: pic.twitter.com/S1lvRRLGbl

— Muslim World League (@MWLOrg_en) September 13, 2026

The Muslim World League (MWL), led by Secretary-General Mohammed bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa, condemned the Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia on Sep. 15, including strikes targeting Khamis Mushait, Abha and Taif with ballistic missiles and drones.

The League described the attacks as “treacherous and criminal,” saying they violated religious values as well as international and humanitarian laws and norms, and reaffirmed its full solidarity with Saudi Arabia.

The following day, the MWL also condemned Houthi attacks targeting Makkah and the Madinah Region, expressing support for measures taken by Saudi Arabia to protect its security and its people.

Pakistan

I condemn in the strongest possible terms the dastardly and heinous attempted drone attack against the Holy Site of Makkah Al-Mukarramah.

The people of Pakistan are saddened and perturbed by this outrageous act. There can be no words strong enough to capture the depth of…

— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) September 16, 2026

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the reported drone attempt in strong terms, saying the news had left Pakistanis "sad and troubled" and praising Saudi forces for acting swiftly to protect the holy site.

He said Pakistan and Saudi Arabia stand "unwaveringly, shoulder to shoulder," and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman spoke with him by phone amid the broader escalation.

Kuwait

Kuwait's Foreign Ministry likewise strongly condemned attacks, saying they stand in full solidarity with Saudi Arabia in its efforts to protect Islamic holy sites.

بيان صادر عن وزارة الخارجية
الأربعاء 16 سبتمبر 2026

تُعرب وزارة الخارجية عن إدانة دولة الكويت واستنكارها الشديدين لمحاولة استهداف مكة المكرمة بطائرة مسيّرة أطلقتها ميليشيا الحوثي، مؤكدةً أن هذا العمل الجبان والمشين يمثّل تعدياً على حرمة قبلة المسلمين، واستهانةً بمكانتها الدينية… pic.twitter.com/LVQ8m0wI6e

— وزارة الخارجية (@MOFAKuwait) September 16, 2026

Bangladesh

Bangladesh strongly condemns the reported drone attack targeting the Holy City of Makkah Al-Mukarramah in Saudi Arabia.

Bangladesh reaffirms its deep respect for the sanctity of Makkah Al-Mukarramah and the other Holy Sites in the Kingdom, and expresses solidarity with the… pic.twitter.com/NHYzzcSlLo

— Ministry of Foreign Affairs (@BDMOFA) September 16, 2026

Bangladesh strongly condemned the reported drone attack and reaffirmed “its deep respect for the sanctity of Makkah Al-Mukarramah and the other Holy Sites in the Kingdom.”

Malaysia

Malaysia issued a statement supporting Saudi Arabia and “calling for all attacks on public areas to be stopped immediately, including any actions that could threaten the safety and sanctity of holy sites.”

STATEMENT ON DRONE INCIDENT NEAR MAKKAH AL-MUKARRAMAH

I view with grave concern reports that a drone was intercepted near Makkah al-Mukarramah. Any attempt to threaten the safety and sanctity of Islam's holiest city would be wholly unacceptable.

Malaysia expresses its deep… pic.twitter.com/AsQapks556

— Anwar Ibrahim (@anwaribrahim) September 16, 2026