Saudi Coalition Says Houthi Militia Targeted Power Station Supplying Madinah

The Saudi-led coalition has said the Houthi militia targeted an electricity distribution station in Madinah with a drone earlier this week, disabling one transformer but leaving the wider power network functioning.

Coalition spokesman Brigadier General Turki al-Malki said the attack took place on September 29 at around 5:15am local time.

According to the Saudi military, an examination of the drone debris and technical analysis confirmed that the Houthi militia was responsible for planning and carrying out the attack.

Al-Malki said the targeted station supplies electricity to the Prophet’s Mosque. He added that the mosque was being supplied through an alternative system following the incident.

Saudi authorities described the incident as a serious security matter involving one of Islam’s holiest sites and said measures would continue to protect the holy sites and visitors.

Houthi sources, however, rejected the Saudi-led coalition’s account and described it as a fabrication. They said Saudi Arabia was attempting to divert attention from an earlier dispute over its claim that a Houthi drone had targeted the airspace around Makkah.

The latest incident comes amid renewed tensions between Saudi Arabia and the Houthi militia after a period of relative calm following the 2022 UN-brokered ceasefire. Reuters reported that cross-border hostilities have intensified this year.