Bangladesh has strongly condemned a reported drone attack targeting Makkah in Saudi Arabia.
On 16 September, Dhaka reiterated its respect for the sanctity of Mecca and other holy sites in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and expressed solidarity with Riyadh and its people in safeguarding those sites.
The government emphasized that the safety and security of the holy sites must be fully respected and protected at all times.
Saudi Arabia’s air‑defence systems intercepted and destroyed a Houthi drone south of Mecca yesterday, stopping it before it could enter the holy city’s restricted airspace, spokesperson Turki al‑Malki said, according to The Guardian.
Al‑Malki, who represents the Saudi‑led coalition fighting the Iran‑aligned Houthis in Yemen, confirmed the successful interception.
He said the coalition would take the necessary deterrent steps against the Houthis.
Makkah, the holiest city in Islam, hosts the annual Hajj pilgrimage, which constitutes one of the religion’s five pillars. Its sacred sites attract millions of Muslim pilgrims from across the globe each year.
Malki said that the incident that occurred yesterday was the second occasion on which the Houthis had attempted to target Makkah.
The coalition previously accused the group of launching a ballistic missile towards the city in July 2017.
The Houthi movement rejected the latest accusation, with spokesperson Hazem al‑Assad posting on X today that allegations of a planned attack on Mecca are “a worn‑out lie that has been used before and no longer fools anyone.”
The Houthi movement holds portions of Yemen’s Red Sea coastline near the Bab al‑Mandab, a key international shipping lane. Their presence in the area affects Saudi oil shipments that have been diverted from the Strait of Hormuz.
The group has claimed responsibility for several attacks against Saudi Arabia over the past week.
Why it matters
The official condemnation highlights Bangladesh's diplomatic stance on Middle Eastern security and the protection of Islamic holy sites.