Saudi Arabia says it intercepted two missiles headed toward Makkah and Madinah region; Houthis deny targeting the holy cities

Saudi Arabia says it intercepted two ballistic missiles in mid-air that were heading toward the holy Makkah and Madinah region. After the missiles were destroyed, debris fell across several areas in the west of the country, local authorities said. Yemen's Houthi group, however, has completely rejected the allegation that Islam's holiest places were targeted.

According to the Saudi civil defence authority, debris from the destroyed missiles landed in Wadi Mugamas in Makkah, Al-Nuzha in Jeddah, Wadi Jalil in Taif and an uninhabited area in Rabigh. Authorities gave no official information about any deaths or major damage from the falling debris.

After the threat emerged, the administration issued a special emergency alert ordering residents of the western region to move immediately to the nearest safe shelter. The warning spread alarm across the area, although no major damage was ultimately reported.

Houthi military spokesman Yahya Sari dismissed the Saudi allegation that the two holy cities were targeted as baseless propaganda. Calling the claim a major lie, he made clear that no attack of any kind had been carried out toward Makkah and Madinah.

In a separate statement, however, the Houthis claimed they had carried out a series of attacks on Friday and Saturday against various Saudi military and strategic energy infrastructure. According to their claim, operations targeted King Khalid International Airport in the capital Riyadh, airports in the Dammam and Najran regions, and the military airbase at Khamis Mushait.

The same statement claimed strikes on crude oil supply pipelines and pumping stations. Riyadh has not confirmed the results or damage of those alleged attacks, making it difficult to independently verify how much of either side's account is accurate.

Meanwhile, Yemen's Saudi-backed government has alleged that the Houthis fired three ballistic missiles at a coast guard centre in the southern port city of Aden. No detailed information about that incident has been confirmed from any neutral source.

Against the backdrop of the long-running conflict between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis over Yemen, the rival claims have raised tensions anew. The allegation involving places as sensitive as Makkah and Madinah has in particular sparked wide discussion across the Muslim world.

According to international media reports, it was the Saudi authorities themselves who announced the interceptions and the falling debris. The Houthis denied attacking the holy cities while themselves claiming attacks on military installations — and that difference between the two sides' statements is now at the centre of the dispute.

Where the situation heads next depends on the steps both sides take in the coming days. For now, alertness remains in place in Saudi Arabia's west, and beyond the interceptions and debris recovery, no new major clash has been officially reported.