Houthi Drone Attack Damages Power Grid Supplying Prophet's Mosque in Madinah

A Houthi attack on Saudi Arabia damaged power equipment supplying the Prophet's Mosque in Madinah, marking the second strike in two weeks on the kingdom's holy cities. The drone attack, which took place on Tuesday morning, knocked out a power transformer in Madinah, according to the Saudi-led military coalition in Yemen. An examination of the drone wreckage confirmed the involvement of the Houthi militia in planning and executing the act, stated Saudi military spokesman Maj Gen Turki Al Malki.

The coalition reported two weeks ago that it had destroyed another Houthi drone south of Makkah before it could enter prohibited airspace over the holy city. Makkah's Grand Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque in Madinah are Islam's two holiest sites. Maj Gen Al Malki condemned the Houthis for their deliberate provocation of millions of Muslims worldwide, while Jasem Al Budaiwi, Secretary General of the Gulf Co-operation Council, stated that the attack crossed all red lines and represented a grave escalation.

The attacks coincide with heavy fighting in Yemen between the Houthis and government forces. Amidst these developments, Saudi Arabia announced it is providing more than 224 million riyals ($60 million) in budget support to Yemen's internationally recognised government. Saudi ambassador Mohammed Al Jabir stated that the financial assistance aims to ensure the steady flow of government funds, enhance fiscal policy efficiency, and boost the purchasing power of Yemeni citizens.

Meanwhile, fierce battles unfolded on several fronts in Taiz governorate, with state-run Saba news agency reporting casualties and equipment losses for the Houthi group. The conflict has severely impacted civilians, displacing millions and causing widespread food insecurity across Yemen, where a UN-brokered truce in 2022 had previously reduced fighting before open hostilities resumed.