Archive · 25 Sep 2026
Saudi Grand Mufti Urges Troops to Prepare for Houthi Fight
Saudi Arabia’s top religious leader gave soldiers a strong message about fighting the Houthis.
He said they should be ready to risk their lives while defending the country.
He used verses from the Quran and sayings linked to the Prophet Mohammad.
He also told soldiers to follow their commanders’ orders carefully.
The message came after the Houthis attacked Saudi Arabia with missiles and drones.
Saudi Arabia responded with airstrikes.
The Saudi-backed Yemeni government recently lost control of the Bab el-Mandeb waterway to the Houthis.
The statement called for the Houthis to be defeated and for the Yemeni government to regain control of the country.
Saudi Arabia’s top religious authority urged soldiers to be ready to sacrifice their lives fighting the Houthis.
Grand Mufti Sheikh Saleh bin Fawzan Al-Fawzan called for the Houthis to be defeated and removed from power.
The statement told troops stationed at Saudi Arabia’s borders to obey rulers and field commanders.
It followed weeks of escalating violence involving Houthi missile and drone attacks and Saudi airstrikes.
The message backed restoring the Saudi-supported Yemeni government’s authority across Yemen, including after its loss of the Bab el-Mandeb waterway.
- Who
- Saudi Grand Mufti Sheikh Saleh bin Fawzan Al-Fawzan addressed Saudi soldiers and called for action against the Houthis.
- What
- He urged troops to prepare to sacrifice their lives, obey commanders, and fight until the Houthis are defeated.
- When
- The statement was issued late Thursday and reported on September 25.
- Where
- The message was directed at soldiers stationed along Saudi Arabia’s borders; the wider conflict is in Saudi Arabia and Yemen.
- Why
- The appeal followed escalating Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia and Saudi airstrikes, while supporting the Saudi-backed Yemeni government’s effort to regain authority.
- Religious authority
- Sheikh Saleh bin Fawzan Al-Fawzan, Saudi Arabia’s Grand Mufti
- Target of appeal
- Saudi soldiers stationed at the country’s borders
- Opposing force
- The Iran-backed Houthi group
- Recent attacks
- The Houthis used missiles and drones against Saudi Arabia; Saudi Arabia responded with airstrikes.
- Strategic setback
- Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces lost control of the Bab el-Mandeb waterway to the Houthis two weeks earlier.
- Conflict background
- Saudi Arabia has been involved in the Yemen conflict since 2015 after launching an operation against the Houthis.
- Statement’s objective
- The defeat of the Houthis and restoration of the Saudi-backed Yemeni government’s authority across Yemen.