Medina – A drone attack on a civilian electricity distribution facility in Medina has sparked fresh concerns across the region after the Saudi-led coalition accused Yemen’s Houthi movement of carrying out a deliberate attack near the Prophet’s Mosque.

According to coalition officials, the drone struck the Taiba Power Distribution Station at 5:11 a.m. on September 29. This facility provides electricity services to the area of ​​Masjid Nabawi, the second holiest site in Islam.

Braking | Medina

Coalition says terrorist Houthi militia has targeted Tayyaba’s power distribution station in #Madinah_Al-Munawrah. pic.twitter.com/5FJVdRmEto

– Makkah updates (@MakkahUpdate) October 1, 2026

Major General Turki al-Maliki, spokesman for the coalition forces, said on October 1 that the Houthis’ responsibility has been identified in the investigation of the incident. According to al-Maliki, investigators conducted an operational review and examined the remains of the drone after the attack. The coalition said the findings proved the attack was planned and carried out by the Houthis.

The strike knocked one transformer out of service, but officials said the damage did not cause a widespread breakdown of the power network. Official accounts do not report any casualties or major power outages.

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The Tayyaba station is a civil power facility serving the Medina area and provides electricity to the Prophet’s Mosque, making the reported strike particularly sensitive in the Muslim world. Saudi authorities have repeatedly made the protection of the two holy mosques in Mecca and Medina a security priority. The latest incident therefore adds a major religious dimension to the already escalating Saudi-Houthi conflict.

The attack in Madinah comes a few days after another horrific Houthi drone incident. Around September 15-16, Saudi air defenses reportedly intercepted and destroyed a drone south of Makkah before it could enter the restricted airspace surrounding the holy city. Al-Maliki called the incident a “shameful act” and called it the second alleged attempt to target Mecca after Saudi allegations of ballistic missiles in 2017.

The development has raised concerns over the security of Islam’s two holiest cities as cross-border drone and missile activity continues to escalate.

The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), which represents 57 member countries, condemned the incidents in the area of ​​Makkah and Madinah. The organization called attacks or threats to holy sites an “unacceptable and intolerable violation”, stressing the sanctity of Islam’s holiest sites.

The Houthis have strongly denied Saudi allegations that their operations target Islamic holy sites. Houthi army spokesman Yahya Sariya responded to Mecca’s previous accusations, calling the Saudi accusations fabrications and lies.

The Madinah strike is part of wider tensions that have been unfolding since around the beginning of September. Houthi drones and missiles have been increasingly reported in attacks against Saudi cities, energy infrastructure and other targets, while Saudi Arabia and coalition forces continue to mount a defensive and military response.

The latest developments have renewed concerns about the potential impact of the conflict on regional security, energy infrastructure and the broader stability of the Middle East. Yet by 1 October no major international tensions or large-scale reprisal campaigns had been specifically attributed to the 29 September Medina incident.

The latest developments have made the security of Makkah and Madinah the focus of an escalating conflict. Saudi officials continue to emphasize that the protection of the Haram Sharif, pilgrims and pilgrims is a top security priority, while the Houthis insist that their military campaign will not target Islamic holy sites.