Türkiye has strongly condemned a Houthi drone attack targeting the holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia, reaffirming its support for Riyadh's sovereignty, territorial integrity and security.
“We strongly condemn the Houthis' drone attack targeting the holy city of Mecca,” the Turkish foreign ministry said in a statement on Wednesday.
Ankara reiterated its solidarity with Saudi Arabia and called for an immediate end to such attacks, warning that they threaten regional stability and security.
Türkiye also urged all parties to refrain from actions that could further escalate tensions in the region.
Türkiye's Head of Communications Burhanettin Duran also strongly condemned the attempted attack on the sanctity of the Muslim holy city.
“Preserving the peace and security of the holy city of Mecca is a matter of great importance to the entire Muslim world,” Duran said, adding that Türkiye stands in solidarity with Saudi Arabia.
Earlier, Saudi air defences intercepted and destroyed the drone before it entered restricted airspace near Mecca, according to the Saudi-led coalition.
The Houthis in Yemen, whom Saudi Arabia blamed for launching the drone, denied responsibility.
Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia said the targeting of Mecca by the Houthis was a "cowardly terrorist attack".
The Gulf kingdom "reaffirms its legitimate right to take all necessary measures to defend the security of the two holy mosques, the pilgrims, and the entire Saudi territory, its citizens, and its residents," the foreign ministry said in a statement.
Several other countries and global bodies also condemned the attack.
Qatar
Qatar’s foreign ministry said it was a “shameful act of aggression”.
“The sanctity and security of the holy sites and the safety of those visiting them must not be targeted, threatened or used in conflicts,” the ministry said in a statement.
The Qatari foreign ministry said that Doha supports Saudi Arabia’s “measures to protect its security, territory, Islamic holy sites and pilgrims”.
Palestine
The Palestinian presidency expressed solidarity with Saudi Arabia against threats to its security, sovereignty and stability.
It said Saudi air defences intercepted and destroyed the drone before it entered Mecca’s airspace, describing the targeting of Islam’s holiest city as a “dangerous criminal act”.
In a statement, the presidency affirmed that targeting Mecca, the direction of prayer for Muslims and a city held dear to their hearts, constitutes a serious criminal act and a flagrant violation of the sanctity of Islamic holy sites, as well as a threat to the security of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the safety of its citizens, residents, and pilgrims.
Pakistan
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif strongly condemned an “attempted drone attack” and called on all parties to pursue dialogue and avoid further escalation.
“I condemn in the strongest possible terms the dastardly and heinous attempted drone attack against the Holy Site of Makkah Al-Mukarramah,” Sharif said in a post on X.
Maldives
Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu said any act that “threatens the safety and sanctity of Islam's holiest city is completely unacceptable."
"Any act that threatens the safety and sanctity of Islam's holiest city is completely unacceptable and deeply offensive to the entire Muslim Ummah," Muizzu said onX.
He expressed the Maldives' "full solidarity" with Saudi Arabia and commended "the swift response of the Royal Saudi Air Defence Forces in safeguarding the Holy City, its pilgrims and residents."
India
India said it was “deeply concerned” over the attack.
“India reiterates its condemnation of attacks on the sovereign territory of Saudi Arabia and of actions that endanger civilian lives and infrastructure,” India's Ministry of External Affairs added in a statement.
Malaysia
Malaysia’s prime minister called for restraint and dialogue.
“I view with grave concern reports that a drone was intercepted near Makkah al-Mukarramah,” Anwar Ibrahim said in a statement posted on X.
“Any attempt to threaten the safety and sanctity of Islam’s holiest city would be wholly unacceptable,” he said.
Kuwait
Kuwait described it as a violation of the sanctity of Qibla and an affront to the sentiments of Muslims.
It reaffirmed its absolute solidarity with Saudi Arabia and praised the vigilance and efficiency of Saudi air defences, stressing that the Kingdom’s security is an inseparable part of the security of Kuwait and the GCC states.
OIC
The Organization of Islamic Cooperation labelled the attack as a "heinous" attack on Islam's holy city.
"The General Secretariat of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) condemns the heinous attacks carried out by the Houthi group against the city of Makkah and the Madinah region, as well as its ongoing aggression against the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia," the OIC said in a statement posted on X.
Arab League
Arab League Secretary General Nabil Fahmy applauded the Saudi air force for thwarting the attack.
"Compromising the security of Mecca and the sanctity of Islamic holy sites is a matter of extreme gravity," he said in a statement.
He warned that escalating Houthi attacks on Saudi territory "threaten the region's security and stability".
