Pakistan PM condemns attempted drone attack near Makkah

Exterior of the Grand Mosque of Makkah, Saudi Arabia, 2022. File photo,

ISLAMABAD — September 16, 2026

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has condemned an attempted drone attack near Makkah after Saudi Arabia said its air defences intercepted and destroyed a Houthi drone south of the holy city. Saudi authorities said the drone was stopped before entering Makkah’s restricted airspace.

Sharif said Pakistan was deeply concerned by the incident and praised the Royal Saudi Air Defence Forces for intercepting the drone. He also reaffirmed Pakistan’s support for Saudi Arabia’s sovereignty and the security of the two holy mosques.

The Saudi-led military coalition said the drone was intercepted on Tuesday evening. Coalition spokesman Maj. Gen. Turki al-Malki described the security of the holy sites and pilgrims as a red line. Saudi authorities also issued security alerts for Makkah following the incident.

The Houthis, however, have denied targeting Makkah. Houthi political bureau member Mohammed al-Farah rejected the Saudi allegation in comments carried by the group’s SABA news agency.

The incident comes as fighting involving the Houthis and Saudi-backed forces in Yemen has intensified. The Houthis have claimed several attacks against Saudi targets in recent days, while Saudi forces have carried out airstrikes in Yemen.

Saudi Arabia has also faced attacks affecting important energy infrastructure. A separate attack last week disrupted the kingdom’s East-West Pipeline, which carries oil from fields in the Gulf region to the Red Sea. Saudi Arabia has not given a date for the full resumption of operations, although U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright said oil flows could resume within days.

The latest escalation follows years of conflict between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis. Saudi Arabia led a military coalition against the group beginning in 2015, but fighting had eased significantly under a ceasefire before tensions increased again this month.

In his statement, Sharif called on all sides to exercise restraint and avoid further escalation. He said Pakistan continued to support dialogue and diplomacy as a way to reduce regional tensions.

The Saudi coalition has said the drone incident was the second attempted Houthi strike directed toward Makkah, following a ballistic missile launch in 2017. The Houthis have rejected the claim that they targeted the holy city.