Saudi Claim of Attack on Mecca Is a Lie, Says Mahdi al-Mashat

Saudi Claim of Attack on Mecca Is a Lie, Yemenis Are the True Defenders of Islamic Holy Sites, Says Mahdi al-Mashat

Shiite News: Mahdi al-Mashat, head of Yemen’s Supreme Political Council, has categorically rejected Saudi Arabia’s claims that Yemen targeted Mecca, describing the allegations as an unsuccessful attempt to shape public opinion in Saudi Arabia’s favor.

According to Al-Masirah, al-Mashat said public awareness had reached a level at which Arab and Muslim peoples had become increasingly aware of what he described as the “reality” of the Saudi government. He accused Riyadh of misusing the wealth of the Muslim world and disrespecting the Kaaba, the Holy Quran and Islam’s two holiest sites.

He stressed that the Yemeni people have a deep attachment to Islamic holy sites and a strong religious commitment to protecting them. He said that just as Yemenis had fought in support of the defense of Al-Aqsa Mosque, they were also prepared to make sacrifices in defense of the Sacred House in Mecca. He added that Yemenis had repeatedly held public demonstrations whenever they believed the Holy Quran, the Prophet Muhammad, Mecca or Al-Aqsa Mosque had been disrespected.

Al-Mashat further argued that Saudi Arabia should have mobilized the Muslim world when former U.S. President Donald Trump was alleged to have shown an image of the Kaaba in a manner that, according to al-Mashat, was inconsistent with its sanctity. He said Saudi allegations could no longer convince Arab and Muslim public opinion, just as previous claims concerning threats to international maritime navigation had, in his view, failed to do so.

The remarks came after Saudi Arabia said its air defenses had intercepted and destroyed a Houthi drone south of Mecca before it entered restricted airspace over the holy city. Saudi authorities described the security of Mecca as a “red line.” Yemeni officials, including Mohammed al-Farah and military spokesman Yahya Saree, denied that Yemen had targeted Mecca or any other Islamic holy site.

Earlier, Ansar Allah’s political bureau also rejected the Saudi allegations, saying that their repetition reflected what it described as Riyadh’s failure to convince public opinion about the war and blockade against Yemen. The Yemeni side also argued that Saudi Arabia could not claim greater devotion to the sanctity of Mecca than the Yemeni people.

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Al-Mashat’s statement additionally referred to allegations concerning the transfer of former Kiswah material associated with the Kaaba to Jeffrey Epstein. Reports published this week said documents released earlier in 2026 contained references to such textiles, although the provenance and circumstances surrounding the material have been discussed in differing reports.