The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and several Arab countries have condemned a drone strike on an electricity distribution facility in Saudi Arabia’s holy city of Madinah. The United Arab Emirates (UAE), Jordan, Kuwait and Bahrain issued separate statements on Thursday (1 October), expressing solidarity with Saudi Arabia and concern over the attack.
The Saudi-led coalition has accused Yemen’s Houthi group of carrying out the strike, while the Houthis have denied the allegation.
Saudi authorities said the attack targeted the Taiba electricity distribution centre in Madinah, a facility that supplies power to the Prophet’s Mosque. One transformer was put out of service in the incident, but the wider electricity supply system remained operational, according to the Saudi authorities.
The Saudi-led coalition said its investigation, together with an examination of debris from the drone used in the attack, had established what it described as evidence of Houthi involvement in planning and carrying out the operation.
Major General Turki Al-Maliki, spokesman for the Saudi-led coalition, said the attack took place early on Tuesday. He said the damage was limited to one transformer and did not result in a wider disruption to the electricity network.
The Houthis, however, rejected the accusation. A military official from the group was quoted by the Houthi-run Saba news agency as describing the Saudi claim as false. The official alleged that Saudi Arabia was raising the Madinah incident to divert attention from its inability to provide evidence for an earlier allegation concerning Houthi activity near Makkah.
The Saudi-led coalition has portrayed the Madinah strike as part of what it says are repeated attempts by the Houthis to target Islam’s two holiest mosques — the Grand Mosque in Makkah and the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah. The coalition also alleged that such attacks could inflame tensions among Muslims worldwide. It said measures would continue to protect holy sites and worshippers.
The OIC issued a strong condemnation of the incident, describing an attack on critical infrastructure and facilities in Madinah as a dangerous escalation and a violation of the sanctity of Islamic holy sites. The organisation also characterised such attacks as contrary to international and humanitarian law and established international norms.
The OIC expressed full solidarity with Saudi Arabia over measures taken to protect its territory, security and stability. It also backed efforts to safeguard Islamic holy sites and protect Saudi citizens and residents.
The UAE Foreign Ministry described the strike as a clear violation of Saudi Arabia’s sovereignty and a threat to its security and stability. Abu Dhabi reaffirmed its support for Saudi Arabia and for measures aimed at protecting the kingdom.
Jordan likewise condemned the attack, calling it a violation of Saudi sovereignty and a threat to the country’s security, stability and territorial integrity. Jordan also described the incident as a breach of international law and the UN Charter. Foreign Ministry spokesman Fuad Majali reiterated Amman’s full solidarity with Saudi Arabia and support for measures protecting its institutions, citizens and residents.
Kuwait said the attack on infrastructure supplying electricity to the Prophet’s Mosque formed part of a series of hostile attacks against civilian infrastructure. Its Foreign Ministry said such attacks violated Saudi sovereignty, international law and international humanitarian law, while also threatening the sanctity of Islamic holy sites.
Kuwait also stressed the close security relationship between Saudi Arabia and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), saying Saudi security was closely linked to the security of Kuwait and other GCC member states.
Bahrain, meanwhile, condemned what it described as continued attacks by the Iran-backed Houthis against Saudi Arabia. Manama said it supported measures taken by Riyadh to protect its sovereignty and security under its right to self-defence.
Bahrain also called on the UN Security Council to adopt a firm position against continued Houthi attacks. It urged implementation of relevant Security Council resolutions, including Resolution 2216, adopted in 2015, and Resolution 2817 of 2026.
The latest incident follows another reported episode involving a Houthi drone near Makkah. On 15 September, the Saudi-led coalition said its air defence systems had detected and destroyed a Houthi drone south of Makkah before it entered the designated restricted airspace around the holy city.
The competing accounts over the Madinah incident reflect the wider tensions surrounding the conflict involving the Houthis and Saudi Arabia. While Riyadh and its allies have attributed the latest strike to the Houthi group, the group has denied responsibility. The attack has nevertheless prompted a broad regional response, particularly because the targeted electricity infrastructure is connected to power supplies serving the Prophet’s Mosque.
