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Türkiye's Foreign Ministry strongly condemned a Houthi drone attack targeting the holy city of Mecca, reaffirming Ankara's support for Saudi Arabia's sovereignty, territorial integrity and security in a statement issued Wednesday.
The ministry said it condemned the attack in the strongest terms, emphasizing Türkiye's solidarity with Saudi Arabia.
It renewed its call for an immediate end to attacks that it said also threaten regional stability and security, urging all sides to refrain from any action that could further escalate tensions.
The Turkish statement came after Saudi air defenses intercepted and destroyed a drone near Mecca on Tuesday evening, according to the Saudi-led coalition.
Coalition spokesman Turki al-Malki said the drone was shot down around 6:50 p.m. local time before it could enter restricted airspace, with the wreckage falling south of the city.
He described it as the second Houthi attempt to target Mecca, citing a ballistic missile the group fired toward the city in July 2017, and said the security of the Two Holy Mosques and pilgrims was a "red line" for the coalition.
The Houthis denied responsibility for the attack. Hezam al-Asad, a senior member of the group's Supreme Political Council, dismissed the Saudi account, saying claims that the group had targeted Mecca were, in his words, a lie that no longer convinces anyone.
Türkiye's statement was one of several from governments across the Muslim world and beyond. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif called the attempted attack "heinous" and urged all parties to exercise maximum restraint.
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim called for restraint and dialogue, saying any attempt to threaten the safety and sanctity of Islam's holiest city was wholly unacceptable, while Bangladesh said the safety and security of the Holy Sites must be protected at all times.
Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu said any act threatening the safety and sanctity of Islam's holiest city was "completely unacceptable."
India said it was following the situation with deep concern, and the United States issued a Level 3 travel advisory urging Americans to reconsider trips to Saudi Arabia, citing the risk of Iranian-linked drone and missile attacks and designating the Yemen border area as a no-travel zone.
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The incident came a day after the Saudi-led coalition said 13 civilians were injured in missile and drone attacks it blamed on the Houthis in Khamis Mushait, Abha and Taif, damaging seven homes and two vehicles. Confrontations between forces loyal to Yemen's internationally recognized government and the Houthis have intensified since early July, following a period of relative calm.
Yemen has been at war since 2014, when the Houthis seized the capital, Sanaa, and several other provinces, prompting a Saudi-led coalition to intervene militarily in 2015 in support of the internationally recognized government. The conflict has since drawn in regional and international powers and produced one of the world's most severe humanitarian crises.
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