Daijiworld Media Network - Muscat
Muscat, Sep 17: Oman on Thursday strongly condemned what Saudi Arabia described as a Houthi drone attack targeting the holy city of Mecca, expressing solidarity with Saudi Arabia and the measures it is taking to protect its security, stability and sovereignty.
In a statement, Oman's Foreign Ministry said it categorically rejects any violation of the sanctity of holy sites or any threat to the safety of worshippers and pilgrims. It also expressed solidarity with Saudi Arabia in the steps being taken to safeguard its security, stability and sovereignty.
Oman called on countries in the region to intensify cooperation and coordination to address outstanding bilateral, regional and multilateral issues in a manner that guarantees the rights of all states to security, stability and a safe and dignified life.
Saudi Arabia said on Tuesday that its air defences intercepted and destroyed a drone south of Mecca before it entered the holy city's restricted airspace. The Saudi-led coalition said the drone had been launched by Yemen's Houthi group. The Houthis, however, denied responsibility and rejected the allegation that they had targeted Mecca.
Saudi coalition spokesperson Maj Gen Turki Al-Maliki said the drone was intercepted at around 6.50 pm on September 15 before entering the prohibited airspace over Mecca. He described the incident as the second attempt to target the holy city, referring to a ballistic missile incident in 2017.
The incident has triggered widespread condemnation. Türkiye and several Arab countries, along with Malaysia, Pakistan, India, Poland, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the Muslim World League, have also condemned the reported attack.
The development comes amid a sharp escalation in fighting between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis. Saudi Arabia has faced a series of missile and drone attacks in recent days that have been attributed to the Houthi group. The renewed escalation has also led Saudi authorities to issue security alerts in parts of the country, including Mecca, Jeddah and Taif.
Saudi Arabia has also sought assistance from regional and Western allies as the conflict continues and its air-defence interceptor stocks come under pressure, according to officials cited by The Associated Press.
Fighting between Yemeni government forces and the Houthis has intensified since early July, ending a period of relative calm that had largely prevailed following a UN-brokered truce that took effect in April 2022.
Yemen has been embroiled in conflict since the Houthis seized the capital, Sanaa, and several provinces in September 2014. The development prompted a Saudi-led Arab coalition to intervene in March 2015 in support of the internationally recognised Yemeni government.
The latest escalation has heightened concerns over regional security, with the conflict also affecting Saudi territory and strategic maritime routes in and around the Red Sea.