Oman strongly condemns Houthi attack targeting Mecca, backs Saudi measures

Oman on Thursday strongly condemned a Houthi attack targeting the holy Muslim city of Mecca.

It expressed solidarity with Saudi Arabia and the measures it takes to protect its security, stability and sovereignty.

The Foreign Ministry denounced the “criminal, sinful and treacherous” targeting of Mecca and said it rejects any violation of the sanctity of holy sites or threat to the safety of pilgrims.

Muscat also expressed solidarity with Saudi Arabia in the steps it takes to safeguard its security, stability and sovereignty.

Oman urged countries in the region to intensify cooperation and coordination to address outstanding bilateral, regional and multilateral issues in a way that guarantees the rights of all states to security, stability and a safe and dignified life.

Saudi Arabia said Tuesday that its air defenses intercepted and destroyed a drone that it said was launched by Yemen’s Houthi group toward Mecca before it entered the holy city’s restricted airspace. The Houthis denied responsibility for the attack.

The Saudi-led coalition said the incident was the second attempt to target Mecca since 2017.

Türkiye and several Arab countries, along with Malaysia, Pakistan, India, Poland, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the Muslim World League, also condemned the attack.

Saudi Arabia has faced missile and drone attacks in recent days that have been attributed to the Houthi group amid an escalating military situation in the region.

Fighting between Yemeni government forces and the Houthis has intensified since early July.

The renewed fighting ended a period of relative calm that had largely prevailed since a UN-brokered truce took effect in April 2022.

Yemen has been engulfed in conflict since the Houthis seized the national capital, Sanaa, and several provinces in September 2014. That prompted a Saudi-led Arab coalition to intervene in March 2015 in support of the internationally recognized government.