Saudi Says Missiles Intercepted Over Mecca, Medina, Houthis Call It "Huge Lie"

This comes hours after the agency warned of "potential danger" for four of its western provinces, including Mecca.

24 Oct 2026, 17:30 · NDTV

Show
Quick Read
Summary is AI-generated, newsroom-reviewed

Saudi said it intercepted Houthi ballistic missiles near Mecca and Medina regions
Shrapnel fell in Wadi Mughamas, Jeddah, Taif, and an uninhabited site in Rabigh
Houthis denied targeting Mecca and Medina, calling reports a "huge lie"

How are neighboring countries reacting to the recent strikes?

Saudi Arabia's civil defence agency said on Saturday that it responded to shrapnel falling in the Mecca and Medina regions after intercepting missiles launched by Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis.

"The fall of shrapnel from two ballistic missiles launched by the terrorist Houthi militia towards the regions of Mecca Al-Mukarramah and Medina Al-Munawwarah," the General Directorate of Saudi Civil Defense said in a post on X.

It added that that fragments of the shrapnel fell in Wadi Mughamas outside Mecca, Al-Nuzha neighborhood in Jeddah, Wadi Jalil in Taif, and an uninhabited site in Rabigh.

"We Don't Have 5 Years": Celebrated American General Sounds Alarm On War

"There Will Be Issues Between Big Countries": S Jaishankar On India-China

Neha Goyal Makes Stunning Asian Games Gold Revelation At NDTV World Summit 2026

Big NDTV Summit Impact: RBI Governor's Tata Sons Listing Remark Makes Top Newspaper Headlines

"Certainty Is A Problem": Nikhil Kamath On Marriage, Children And Future

"High Inflation Is Like Tax On Everyone": RBI Governor At NDTV World Summit

RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra's Big Hint On Tata Sons Listing Row At NDTV World Summit

The Mystery Of A Bare Nail In Ashwini Vaishnaw's Office

Paris Setback, Asian Games Glory: Lovlina Borgohain's New Perspective

To PM Modi's "Failed Product" Jab At Rahul Gandhi, A Shashi Tharoor Counter

Houthis, however, denied targeting the Islam's two holiest cities.

"What the Saudi enemy is promoting about our forces targeting towards the holy areas of Mecca and Medina is a great and huge lie," Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree said.

Earlier on Saturday, the Saudi Civil Defense -- the government agency that operates under the Kingdom's Ministry of Interior and is responsible for protecting civilians and property during emergencies and disasters -- warned of "potential danger" in four of its western provinces, including Mecca and instructed residents of the provices to "proceed to the nearest safe place".

This came hours after Houthis said that they targeted several Saudi sites over Friday and Saturday, including three airports, two oil facilities, a pipeline and an air base.

Yahya Saree said the group targeted the King Khalid International Airport in Saudi capital Riyadh "in two phases", and the airports in Dammam and Najran regions. The group also targeted the southern Khamis Mushait air base as well as "crude oil pumping stations and the crude oil pipeline from east to west".

As clashes intensify in the region, Yemen's Saudi-backed government also said on Saturday that Houthis fired three ballistic missiles at coast guard facilities in the southern port of Aden.

The escalation has torn up the 2022 UN-mediated truce, which had largely kept the Saudi-led coalition and the Houthis from striking across the border. The coalition supports Yemen's internationally recognized government, while the Houthis remain in control of the capital, Sanaa.

(With inputs from AFP)

Got a follow‑up question on this article? Go on

How may i help you today

Show full article

Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world