Ankara: Trkiye on Wednesday strongly condemned a Houthi drone attack targeting the holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia, reaffirming support for the kingdom's security. "We reiterate our call for these attacks, which also threaten regional stability and security, to end immediately and for all actions aimed at further escalating tensions to be avoided," the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
According to Anadolu Agency, Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned an attempted drone attack near Mecca and called for dialogue. "I condemn in the strongest possible terms the dastardly and heinous attempted drone attack against the Holy Site of Makkah Al-Mukarramah," Shehbaz Sharif said in a post on US social media company X.
Malaysia's Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim called for restraint and dialogue following the interception of a drone near Mecca, warning against further regional escalation. 'Any attempt to threaten the safety and sanctity of Islam's holiest city would be wholly unacceptable,' he said.
Separately, Bangladesh's Foreign Ministry also condemned the attack and called for respecting and protecting holy sites. "Bangladesh reaffirms its deep respect for the sanctity of Makkah Al-Mukarramah and the other Holy Sites in the Kingdom, and expresses solidarity with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and its people in protecting those," said the ministry.
Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu also condemned the attack, saying any act that 'threatens the safety and sanctity of Islam's holiest city is completely unacceptable.' "Any act that threatens the safety and sanctity of Islam's holiest city is completely unacceptable and deeply offensive to the entire Muslim Ummah," Muizzu said on the US social media company X.
Saudi air defenses intercepted and destroyed a drone launched by Yemen's Houthi group near Mecca, the Saudi-led coalition said early Wednesday, while the Houthis denied responsibility for the launch. Coalition spokesman Turki al-Malki said the drone was intercepted at around 6.50 pm local time (1550GMT) Tuesday before entering restricted airspace, with its wreckage falling south of the city.