9 hrs ago
Saudi-Led Coalition Says Houthis Attacked Medina Power Station
Saudi Arabia says Houthi forces attacked a power station in Medina.
The station helps provide electricity to the Prophet’s Mosque.
Saudi officials said a drone was involved and that one transformer stopped working.
They said the wider electricity system kept operating.
The Houthis said they did not carry out the attack.
They called Saudi Arabia’s claim a lie.
Saudi Arabia also says the Houthis previously tried to target Mecca, but the Houthis deny that too.
Fighting has become more serious since attacks resumed this year.
Saudi Arabia is striking targets in Yemen while supporting forces fighting the Houthis.
The Saudi-led coalition said Houthis attacked a power distribution station in Medina on Tuesday.
The coalition said one transformer was put out of service, but electricity supplies were not disrupted.
Saudi officials said drone-wreckage analysis confirmed Houthi involvement in planning and carrying out the attack.
The Houthis denied responsibility and called the accusation a lie linked to an earlier dispute over Mecca.
The incident marks a major escalation after a 2022 truce largely halted cross-border attacks between the sides.
- Who
- The Saudi-led coalition accused Yemen’s Houthis, who denied responsibility.
- What
- An alleged Houthi drone attack damaged a power distribution station and took one transformer out of service without disrupting the electricity network.
- Where
- At a power distribution station in Medina, Saudi Arabia, which supplies electricity to the Prophet’s Mosque.
- When
- The attack allegedly occurred on Tuesday; the coalition announced its findings on Thursday.
- Why
- The coalition said the attack was part of efforts to target Islamic holy sites and provoke Muslims, while the Houthis said the accusation was intended to cover up Saudi Arabia’s failure to substantiate an earlier Mecca claim.
Saudi-Led Coalition Account
Houthi Denial
Responsibility for the Medina attack
Saudi-Led Coalition Account
The coalition said an investigation and examination of drone wreckage confirmed that the Houthis planned and carried out the attack.
Houthi Denial
The Houthis denied involvement and rejected the accusation as a lie.
Alleged targeting of holy sites
Saudi-Led Coalition Account
The coalition said the Medina attack was part of repeated Houthi attempts to target the Two Holy Mosques and provoke Muslims worldwide.
Houthi Denial
The Houthis denied targeting Mecca, Medina, or any other Islamic holy site.
Reason for the accusation
Saudi-Led Coalition Account
The coalition presented the attack as evidence of an ongoing Houthi threat requiring continued protection for holy sites and pilgrims.
Houthi Denial
The Houthis said the Medina allegation was intended to cover up Saudi Arabia’s failure to substantiate its earlier claim about an attempted Mecca attack.
Key facts
- Alleged target
- A power distribution station in Medina
- Damage reported
- One transformer was taken out of service
- Electricity impact
- The coalition said the electricity network was not affected
- Saudi evidence
- The coalition cited an investigation and examination of drone wreckage
- Houthi response
- A Houthi military source denied responsibility and called the accusation a lie
- Related dispute
- Saudi Arabia previously accused the Houthis of targeting Mecca, which they also denied
- Conflict status
- The escalation followed the resumption of hostilities after a 2022 UN-brokered truce









