Yemen’s Ministry of Defense has refuted Riyadh’s claim that Yemeni forces launched an attack against a power plant in Medina, describing the accusation as entirely without merit and intended to distort public perception. The Saudi-led coalition announced that its air defense units intercepted a projectile in the vicinity of Medina, asserting that it was en route to critical infrastructure near the holy city. Saudi authorities declared heightened security measures and characterized the interception as prevention of an assault on Islam’s second holiest site.
In response, a military source within Yemen’s Ministry of Defense, cited by Saba News Agency, issued a denial, stating that Medina was never designated as a target and that no operation was directed toward its civilian facilities. The source affirmed that Yemeni operations are confined to military installations and energy assets directly linked to the Saudi military campaign, situated at considerable distance from religious and civilian centers. A political representative in Sanaa added that such accusations represent a repeated approach aimed at mobilizing Muslim sentiment against Yemen.
The Ministry’s statement further asserted that Riyadh is exploiting the sacred status of Medina to generate legitimacy for military escalation and to deflect scrutiny from its own conduct in the Arabian Peninsula. According to Sanaa, the introduction of the Medina allegation is an attempt to compensate for the failure of the earlier claim concerning Mecca, which was widely contested and dismissed as unsubstantiated. The statement also referenced what it described as an effort to assert external custodianship over Yemeni affairs under the justification of protecting holy sites.
Saudi authorities continue to report interception of unmanned aerial vehicles and ballistic projectiles, while Yemeni authorities report sustained airstrikes across several Yemeni governorates over recent days. Yemeni military communiques have previously referenced operations against logistical and operational bases in southern Saudi Arabia associated with the ongoing military campaign, as Saudi aerial aggression within Yemen persist.
The Medina issue remains highly sensitive due to the city’s profound religious significance for Muslims worldwide. The Saudi coalition maintained that the projectile was neutralized before entering restricted airspace surrounding the holy site, while Yemeni officials rejected the premise that Medina had ever been within its operational scope. As of the time of publication, no independent satellite imagery, verified wreckage, or third-party technical assessment has been presented to substantiate damage to any power facility in Medina.
Sanaa characterizes such allegations as elements of an information strategy accompanying the military campaign, reiterating that its declared operational objectives are limited to military bases and petroleum infrastructure supporting Saudi military activities. This position seeks to establish a clear distinction between military engagements and religious sites, while Riyadh continues to frame intercepted projectiles as evidence of a threat to Medina. The dispute is anticipated to exacerbate regional tensions and intensify the contest over narratives surrounding the conflict in Yemen.
