Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has condemned in the strongest possible terms an attempted attack on Mecca after Saudi Arabia said a Houthi launched drone heading towards the holy city was intercepted. The condemnation was issued from Islamabad on Tuesday as Saudi air defence forces confirmed neutralization of the unmanned aerial vehicle before it reached the sacred precincts.
Saudi authorities said the drone was launched by Yemen Houthi rebels and was tracked and intercepted en route to Mecca, Islam holiest city which hosts millions of pilgrims annually for Hajj and Umrah. The Kingdom said no casualties or damage were recorded, with security forces maintaining heightened alert around religious sites and civilian infrastructure in the western region.
Prime Minister Sharif described any attack targeting Mecca as an assault on the sentiments of Muslims worldwide, reaffirming Pakistan solidarity with Saudi Arabia in safeguarding the Two Holy Mosques. According to Al Jazeera, Saudi Arabia accused the Houthis of systematically targeting civilian areas and holy sites using drones and ballistic missiles, a claim the Yemeni group has previously denied or justified as response to Saudi led coalition operations.
In Middle East security architecture, the Houthi movement, formally known as Ansar Allah, has fought a protracted war against the internationally recognized Yemeni government backed by a Saudi led coalition since 2015. Drone and missile attacks on Saudi territory have become a recurring tactic, with Saudi air defences relying on Patriot systems and indigenous interception technologies. Mecca, located in Makkah Region, holds unmatched religious significance as the birthplace of Prophet Muhammad and direction of prayer for 1.9 billion Muslims, making any threat to its security highly provocative across the Islamic world.
The interception has renewed calls for de escalation in Yemen and protection of religious heritage under international humanitarian law. Pakistan, which hosts the second largest Muslim population globally and deploys troops for Saudi training missions, reiterated commitment to the Kingdom territorial integrity and sanctity of holy sites, urging the international community to condemn attempts to weaponize religious sentiments and disrupt pilgrimage safety.
Source: Aljazeera
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Author: Korkor Anumu
