Pakistan on Friday strongly condemned an alleged attack by the Houthi militia on the Taibah power distribution station in Madina on Sept 29, describing it as a “grave provocation” and a threat to regional peace and security.
In a statement, the Foreign Office (FO) said the attack targeted civilian infrastructure supplying electricity to the Holy Prophet’s (PBUH) Mosque.
“The sanctity of the Two Holy Mosques and the safety of worshippers and pilgrims must be respected under all circumstances,” the FO said.
It called for an “immediate and unconditional” end to what it described as “reckless actions”, saying such attacks also constituted a grave threat to regional peace and security.
The FO reaffirmed Pakistan’s “unwavering solidarity” with Saudi Arabia and expressed full support for the kingdom’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and security.
“Pakistan stands firmly with Saudi Arabia in its efforts to safeguard the Two Holy Mosques, protect its people and ensure the safety of pilgrims,” the statement said.
The FO added that Pakistan had been and would continue to make efforts to achieve lasting peace and stability in the region.
The statement comes as Yemen’s Saudi-led coalition accused the group of striking an electricity distribution station in Madinah, which provided power to the Prophet’s Mosque. However, the Houthis have denied the accusation.
The alleged attack came as fighting intensifies in Yemen, where government forces said they carried out attacks on Houthi targets.
Coalition spokesman Major General Turki al-Maliki said a drone struck the Taibah electricity distribution station at 5:11 am (07:11am PKT) on September 29.
“The investigation and evidence gathered by the competent authorities have confirmed the involvement of the terrorist Houthi militia in planning and executing this cowardly terrorist act, based on after-action review and the wreckage of the drone used,” he said in a statement.
The coalition said one transformer was taken out of service without affecting the wider electricity network. Al-Maliki said the facility supplied electricity to the Prophet’s Mosque.
Saudi Arabia said two weeks ago it had intercepted and destroyed a Houthi drone south of Makkah before it entered restricted airspace over the city. The coalition described that incident as the second Houthi attempt to target Makkah since 2017, while the Houthis denied targeting Makkah or any other Islamic holy site.
The latest escalation is the most serious fighting between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis since a UN-brokered truce largely halted cross-border attacks in 2022. Hostilities resumed this year after the Houthis declared a naval blockade on Saudi Arabia in July and began attacking Saudi territory and shipping, while Houthi forces also made major territorial gains along Yemen’s Red Sea coast.
Saudi Arabia has responded with airstrikes in Yemen and backed government forces fighting to push back the Houthis.
‘Provocative attacks’
The incident has drawn harsh criticism from Muslim countries.
Turkiye strongly condemned the alleged attack and voiced support for Saudi Arabia.
“We strongly condemn the Houthis’ attack on civilian infrastructure” in Madinah, the foreign ministry said.
“These provocative attacks, which threaten Saudi Arabia’s sovereignty and security and target the sacred values of the Islamic world, must cease immediately and unconditionally.”
Turkiye said it reiterated its “strong support for Saudi Arabia” and called for steps to prevent further escalation.
Qatar also condemned the attack. In a statement, Doha said it was “a grave assault on the sanctity of Islamic holy sites”, a violation of Saudi sovereignty and international law.
It reaffirmed its “full solidarity” with Riyadh and said the kingdom’s security was an integral part of Gulf security.
The League of Arab States joined the chorus, calling the attack “an unacceptable transgression”. The organisation said the attack “provokes the sentiments of Muslims worldwide” and represented a dangerous escalation.
Al-Azhar, the Cairo-based institute of Sunni Islamic learning, also denounced the incident.
It said, “Targeting Madinah provokes the sentiments of Muslims worldwide”.
The post 'Grave provocation': Pakistan condemns Houthi attack on power facility in Madina appeared first on Dawn – Home.
