Houthi leader Abdul Malik al-Houthi has issued a formal denial regarding accusations that his forces have attempted to strike Mecca. The statement comes amidst ongoing regional tensions and claims from opposing factions that Houthi military operations have threatened sacred locations within Saudi Arabia.

In his address, al-Houthi characterized the allegations as false propaganda intended to damage the reputation of his movement. He explicitly stated that his forces have no intention of attacking Mecca and instead vowed to defend the city and other Islamic holy sites. The Houthi leadership maintains that their military actions are strictly defensive and directed against political and military adversaries rather than religious centers.

While the Houthi leadership frames their position as one of protection for the Islamic faith, Saudi-led coalition forces have historically accused the group of launching ballistic missiles toward the kingdom, including areas near the holy cities. The discrepancy between the Houthi claims of innocence and the accusations from the Saudi-led coalition remains a central point of friction in the ongoing conflict. Al Jazeera reports the Houthi perspective, emphasizing the leader's promise to safeguard religious sites, though the report does not provide the specific counter-claims or evidence presented by the Saudi-led coalition regarding past missile trajectories.