An explosive drone attack struck a power distribution station in Medina before dawn on September 29, 2026, damaging a transformer but leaving the electrical grid stable, according to the Saudi-led coalition. While regional governments swiftly condemned the act, Houthi officials denied any involvement in the strike.
Coalition Blames Houthi Forces for Electricity Station Strike
The strike hit the Taibah electricity distribution station at 5:11 a.m. local time on Tuesday, September 29, 2026. Brigadier General Turki Al-Maliki, spokesperson for the coalition supporting legitimacy in Yemen, said the facility was targeted deliberately to disrupt services provided to the Prophet’s Mosque.
Investigators examined operational data and drone wreckage left at the site. The review led authorities to conclude that Houthi forces planned and executed the aerial assault. While the blast knocked one transformer out of service, the electrical grid remained unaffected by the damage. Al-Maliki characterized the incident as an extension of the movement’s ongoing attempts to target the Two Holy Mosques and provoke millions of Muslims globally.
Military analyst Faisal Al-Hamad suggested that the munition matched the Samad 3 drone model, an explosive-laden aerial vehicle with an operational range of 1,800 kilometers supplied to the group by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The incident unfolded as the coalition also reported intercepting ballistic missiles over Khamis Mushait and Jazan alongside armed drones.
Houthis Reject Accusations as Regional Capitals Issue Rebukes
Houthi political bureau member Daifullah Al-Shami rejected the coalition’s account through the group’s Al-Masirah channel, describing the claims as a major slander against the Yemeni people and asserting that the accusation carries an emotional weight more painful than airstrikes and casualties. A military source in the Houthi defense ministry told the Saba news agency that the accusations bore no truth, labeling them as a falsehood and a great lie directed against Yemenis.
Regional capitals responded with sharp rebukes. Jasem Al-Budaiwi, secretary-general of the Gulf Cooperation Council, condemned the operation in strong terms, calling it a dangerous escalation against holy sites.
The Houthi terrorist militia’s targeting of an electrical facility serving the Prophet’s Mosque is a flagrant provocation to the feelings of Muslims worldwide and a grave violation of the sanctity of Islamic holy sites.
Jasem Al-Budaiwi, Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council
Foreign ministries across the region voiced full solidarity with Riyadh, including Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Bahrain, Kuwait, Egypt, and Mauritania. Additional statements of denunciation were issued by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the Yemeni government’s foreign ministry. The General Presidency for the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque described the attack as a heinous crime that violates sacred boundaries and international norms.
Military Escalation Across Yemen’s Frontlines
The aerial attack on Medina coincides with a broader military escalation. Coalition warplanes responded with a series of precision airstrikes, including 27 raids supporting pro-government forces in Yemen’s Taiz province.
