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The General Secretariat of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation condemned the heinous attacks carried out by the Houthi group against Makkah, the Madinah region and the broader Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in a statement released on September 16, 2026. The OIC General Secretariat said these strikes instill fear in innocent civilians while violating the sanctity of holy sites, mosques and provoking the sentiments of Muslims around the world. It described the acts by the Houthi terrorist militia against holy sites, mosques and civilian infrastructure as constituting terrorism that runs counter to Islamic values and international norms. The secretariat stressed that such violations of holy sites are unacceptable and must be deterred to prevent further transgressions.
Muslim World League Secretary-General Mohammed al-Issa strongly condemned the Houthi attacks targeting Mecca and the Medina region, characterizing them as a terrorist approach that threatens civilians and sacred locations, according to a statement from the league. Al-Issa called on Islamic countries and the international community to join in denouncing the actions while expressing the MWL’s full solidarity with Saudi Arabia and support for measures to safeguard holy sites and protect national security. The Muslim World League has issued repeated condemnations throughout September 2026 of successive Houthi aggressions on Saudi cities including Khamis Mushait, Abha and Taif that caused civilian injuries and property damage. A series of official MWL releases documented these earlier incidents involving ballistic missiles and drones.
Pakistan aligned itself with the regional outcry by condemning the Houthi actions as intolerable assaults on sacred Islamic landmarks, with its position amplified through diplomatic statements reported by the Associated Press of Pakistan on the same day. The Pakistani stance reinforces broader diplomatic efforts to uphold the sanctity of Makkah and Madinah, which draw millions of Muslim pilgrims annually from across the globe. This condemnation adds to Islamabad’s consistent advocacy for de-escalation in regional conflicts that threaten stability in the Arabian Peninsula.
The condemnations follow the Saudi-led coalition’s announcement that air defenses intercepted a Houthi-launched drone south of Makkah on Tuesday evening before it could enter restricted airspace around the holy city. Coalition spokesman Turki al-Malki described the incident as the second Houthi attempt to target Makkah, referencing a ballistic missile strike directed at the city in July 2017. Al-Malki emphasized that the security of the Two Holy Mosques and pilgrims represents a red line that will prompt firm responses to deter future threats.
The Organization of Islamic Cooperation expressed full solidarity with Saudi Arabia and backed all steps the kingdom takes to deter aggressors, preserve the sanctity of holy sites, protect Muslim lives and defend its sovereignty. Similar language appeared in the Muslim World League statements, which reiterated support for Saudi measures in line with religious values and international law. These unified positions come amid heightened regional tensions, with the recent drone incident occurring as the Houthis have conducted multiple strikes on Saudi territory in recent weeks that a range of GCC states and international actors have denounced.
