Saudi Arabia says it shot down Houthi missiles aimed at Mecca and Medina
Saudi Civil Defence said two ballistic missiles fired from Yemen towards the Mecca and Medina regions were intercepted, with debris falling in Mecca, Jeddah, Taif and Rabigh. The Houthis called the claim a lie.
At a glance
- Saudi Civil Defence said on Saturday, October 24, 2026, that two ballistic missiles launched from Yemen towards the Mecca and Medina regions were intercepted.
- Debris fell in Wadi Al Mughammas in Mecca, the Al Nuzha district of Jeddah, Wadi Jalil in Taif and Masturah in Rabigh governorate. No casualties were reported.
- Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree denied targeting the holy cities, calling the Saudi account a lie and saying the group only strikes oil facilities and military bases.
- It is the first time in the current escalation that Saudi Arabia has said missiles were aimed at the two holy cities, which millions of Muslims visit for Umrah every year.
- India issued a fresh advisory for its nationals and Umrah pilgrims in Saudi Arabia, with 24-hour control rooms in Jeddah and Mecca.
Saudi Arabia says its air defences shot down two ballistic missiles fired from Yemen towards the Mecca and Medina regions on Saturday, October 24, 2026, with fragments falling in Mecca, Jeddah, Taif and Rabigh. Saudi Civil Defence blamed Yemen's Houthi movement. The Houthis denied aiming at the holy cities and called the Saudi account a lie.
No deaths or injuries were reported. It is the first time in the current wave of attacks that the kingdom has said missiles were heading for the regions of Islam's two holiest sites. The claim sharply raises the stakes of a conflict that has already closed airports, cancelled flights and drawn in Pakistan, Turkiye and Western air forces.
What Saudi Arabia said
A Civil Defence spokesman said emergency teams in the Mecca and Medina regions responded to reports of falling debris after the two missiles were intercepted, and that "established procedures" for such incidents were followed. The statement did not report any casualties or serious damage.
| Location | Region | What fell |
|---|---|---|
| Wadi Al Mughammas | Mecca city | Interceptor/missile debris |
| Al Nuzha district | Jeddah | Debris |
| Wadi Jalil | Taif | Debris |
| Masturah | Rabigh governorate | Debris |
Saudi officials also reported intercepting a drone over the Riyadh region on the same day. Earlier on Saturday, the kingdom had reported shooting down missiles over Taif and towards the Red Sea port of Yanbu, home to a major Aramco terminal.
The Houthi denial
Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree rejected the Saudi statement, calling the claim about the holy places a great and huge lie. He said the group's operations target Saudi oil facilities, airports and military bases, and that it announces each attack publicly when it happens.
Saree listed recent targets that the group says it has hit, including King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, the Aramco facility at Yanbu, the Rabigh oil refinery, crude oil pumping stations and the East-West Pipeline that carries Saudi crude to the Red Sea. Neither side's account could be independently verified.
Background: a month of attacks on Saudi Arabia
The Saudi-Houthi conflict began in 2015 and had been largely frozen for several years. It has flared again alongside the war between the United States, Israel and Iran, which began in February. Since late September, the Houthis have fired a steady series of drones and missiles at the kingdom:
- September 26: drones heading for Riyadh were intercepted and a missile fell near Khamis Mushait.
- October 1: a drone hit a power station in Medina, knocking out one transformer.
- October 4: missile debris injured a foreign worker and damaged a prayer room.
- October 13: missiles were intercepted over Dhahran and Haradh, with debris landing in a residential area.
- Last week: an attack on King Fahd International Airport in Dammam killed one Saudi resident and injured eight, and drone debris at an Aramco oil field killed a Nepali and a Filipino worker and injured a Pakistani and an Indian.
The United States has ordered some diplomats and families to leave Saudi Arabia, and several airlines have suspended flights.
Reactions
India issued a fresh advisory for its citizens in Saudi Arabia, especially Umrah pilgrims stuck by flight cancellations. Its consulate in Jeddah said it is running 24-hour control rooms in Jeddah and Mecca, supported by community volunteers, and is providing food and essential medicines where needed while working with Saudi authorities to speed up returns.
Saudi Arabia has previously described any attack on Mecca as a red line.
Why it matters
Mecca and Medina receive millions of pilgrims each year, a large share of them from Pakistan, India, Indonesia, Bangladesh and other Muslim-majority countries. Any threat to the holy cities carries huge religious and political weight across the Muslim world and could harden support for Saudi Arabia among its allies.
For Pakistan the issue is especially direct. Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have just ratified the Makkah defence pact, which also includes Turkiye, and Pakistan has confirmed it has troops in the kingdom. Hundreds of thousands of Pakistanis work in Saudi Arabia and many families have relatives on Umrah. Attacks on Saudi oil infrastructure also push up global oil prices, which feeds directly into petrol prices and inflation in Pakistan and South Asia.
What happens next
Saudi Arabia and its partners are on high alert for further launches. The wider crisis could escalate further if the United States carries out new strikes on Iran, which US President Donald Trump has said could come within days, or calm down if diplomatic talks produce a deal.
Advice for pilgrims and travellers
- Check your flight status directly with the airline before leaving for the airport.
- Register with your embassy or consulate in Saudi Arabia and save its emergency numbers.
- Follow instructions from Saudi Civil Defence if alerts sound, and stay away from any debris.
- Keep documents, medicines and a phone charger ready in case of travel changes.
Questions people are asking
Did Houthi missiles hit Mecca?
No. Saudi Civil Defence said two ballistic missiles aimed at the Mecca and Medina regions were intercepted on October 24, 2026, and only debris fell, including in Wadi Al Mughammas in Mecca. No casualties were reported.
What did the Houthis say about the Mecca and Medina missiles?
Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree denied the claim, calling it a great lie. He said the group targets Saudi oil facilities, airports and military bases and announces its operations publicly.
Is it safe to go for Umrah now?
Umrah has not been suspended, but several airlines have cancelled flights to Saudi Arabia and governments including India have issued advisories. Pilgrims should check with their airline, travel agent and their country's embassy or consulate before travelling.
