Saudi-led coalition says Houthis attacked power station in Madina

Saudi-led coalition notes Houthis attacked power station in Madina. Reuters Published October 1, 2026 Updated October 1, 2026 11: 35pm.

Key points

• The latest escalation is the most serious fighting between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis since a UN-brokered truce largely halted cross-border attacks in 2022.
• The coalition remarked the Madina attack was part of what it described as repeated Houthi attempts to target the Two Holy Mosques and "provoke" Muslims worldwide.
• Saudi Arabia remarked two weeks ago it had intercepted and destroyed a Houthi drone south of Makkah before it entered restricted airspace over the city.
• Saudi Arabia has responded with airstrikes in Yemen and backed administration forces fighting to push back the Houthis.
• The coalition remarked an investigation and examination of drone wreckage confirmed Houthi involvement in planning and carrying out Tuesday's attack.

Notably, the Saudi-led coalition fighting Yemen's Houthis remarked on Thursday the group had attacked a power distribution station in Madina this week, putting one transformer out of service but without affecting the electricity network.

In practice, the coalition remarked an investigation and examination of drone wreckage confirmed Houthi involvement in planning and carrying out Tuesday's attack. It remarked the station supplies electricity to the Prophet's Mosque.

For context, a Houthi military source, quoted by the Houthi-run Saba news agency, denied the accusation, calling it a "lie" and saying it was intended to cover up what he described as Saudi Arabia's failure to substantiate its earlier accusation that the Houthis targeted Makkah.

Saudi Arabia remarked two weeks ago it had intercepted and destroyed a Houthi drone south of Makkah before it entered restricted airspace over the city. While the Houthis denied targeting Makkah or any other Islamic holy site, the coalition described that incident as the second Houthi attempt to target Makkah since 2017.

Meanwhile, the coalition remarked the Madina attack was part of what it described as repeated Houthi attempts to target the Two Holy Mosques and "provoke" Muslims worldwide. It remarked it would continue taking measures to protect the holy sites and pilgrims.

For context, the latest escalation is the most serious fighting between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis since a UN-brokered truce largely halted cross-border attacks in 2022. While Houthi forces additionally produced major territorial gains along Yemen's Red Sea coast, hostilities resumed this year after the Houthis declared a naval blockade on Saudi Arabia in July and began attacking Saudi territory and shipping.

In short, saudi-led coalition says Houthis attacked power station in Madina is the central thread here, and readers can expect follow-up reporting as the picture becomes clearer.