Regional governments unite over strike near Medina holy site

A drone strike on a power station serving the Prophet’s Mosque in Medina has drawn condemnation from governments across the region, framed almost entirely around one question: the safety of civilians and the protection of a site sacred to Muslims worldwide.

The Organization of Islamic Cooperation was among the first to respond. Its General Secretariat said it “strongly condemned and denounced” the attack, calling the targeting of vital infrastructure in Medina “a dangerous escalation and a blatant violation of the sanctity of holy sites,” as well as of international and humanitarian laws and norms. The body affirmed its full solidarity with Saudi Arabia in measures taken to protect its territory, security and stability, defend Islamic holy sites and safeguard both citizens and residents.

What actually happened on the ground: the attack took place early Tuesday, Sept. 29, according to coalition spokesman Maj. Gen. Turki al-Maliki, who said it knocked one transformer at the Taiba electricity distribution station out of service without affecting the wider electricity grid. He said investigation findings, operational data and an examination of drone debris “proved the Houthi militia’s involvement in planning and carrying out this act.” Al-Maliki accused the group of targeting civilian facilities that provide electricity services to the Prophet’s Mosque, framing the strike as part of what he called repeated attempts to target the Two Holy Mosques. As of 1845GMT Thursday there had been no immediate comment from the Houthis on the coalition’s statement.

Meanwhile, governments across the Gulf and the wider Arab region placed the safety of civilians and holy sites at the center of their responses. Kuwait said the targeting of an electrical facility serving the Prophet’s Mosque formed part of what it described as repeated hostile attacks against civilian infrastructure. “Such attacks constituted a violation of Saudi sovereignty, international law and international humanitarian law, while also provoking the feelings of Muslims worldwide and threatening the sanctity of Islamic holy sites,” the Kuwaiti Foreign Ministry said. Kuwait reaffirmed its full solidarity with the kingdom, adding that Saudi security was inseparable from the security of Kuwait and other Gulf Cooperation Council states.

The UAE Foreign Ministry called the drone attack “a flagrant violation of the sovereignty of Saudi Arabia and a threat to its security and stability,” reiterating Abu Dhabi’s support for measures aimed at safeguarding the kingdom. Jordan, through Foreign Ministry spokesman Fuad Majali, described the strike as a “blatant violation” of Saudi sovereignty that threatened the kingdom’s security, stability and territorial integrity, and as a violation of international law and the UN Charter. Majali affirmed Jordan’s “absolute solidarity” with Saudi Arabia and its support for measures protecting the kingdom, its institutions, citizens and residents.

Bahrain went further, condemning “continued attacks by the Iran-backed Houthis against Saudi Arabia” and calling on the UN Security Council to take a firm position against repeated Houthi attacks and ensure implementation of relevant resolutions, including Resolution 2216 of 2015 and Resolution 2817 of 2026. Manama said it supports Saudi Arabia in measures taken to defend its sovereignty and security under its right to self-defense.

The condemnations followed a Saudi announcement that the Taiba station, which provides power to the Prophet’s Mosque, had been targeted. The episode came less than two weeks after a Sept. 15 incident in which the coalition said Saudi air defenses intercepted and destroyed a drone attributed to the Houthis south of Mecca, before it could enter the city’s restricted airspace.

For the people of Medina and the millions who look to the city as a center of faith, the strike touched directly on the reliability of an essential service and the security of a revered site, concerns that the statements from the OIC and the Arab capitals sought to frame as a matter of shared international responsibility. Whether the Security Council answers Bahrain’s call, and whether the Houthis respond to the coalition’s allegations, remains to be seen.