International

Thousands Rally in Yemen After Saudi Arabia Accuses Sana’a of Targeting Mecca With Drones

19 September 2026 19:09 PM

NEWS DESK

Thousands of people took to the streets in Yemen’s capital, Sana’a, rejecting Saudi Arabia’s allegation that drones had been launched toward the holy city of Mecca.

The protesters expressed solidarity with Mecca and vowed to continue supporting Yemen’s strategy of responding to Saudi military actions.

According to Yemen’s Saba news agency, the rally was held under the slogan “Supporting the Armed Forces, Blockade for Blockade in Response to the Siege, and Exposing the Falsehood of Targeting Mecca.”

Speakers at the gathering condemned what they described as any attempt to undermine the sanctity of Mecca. They said the Yemeni people were prepared to sacrifice their lives and blood to protect the holy city.

Demonstrators rejected Saudi Arabia’s accusation as a “false claim,” saying Yemenis had historically stood at the forefront of efforts to defend the sanctity of Mecca. They chanted slogans including, “We are ready to shed blood to protect Mecca and will not hesitate to defend it.”

Sheikh Taha al-Hadari, secretary-general of the Yemeni Scholars Association, read a joint statement at the rally. The statement reaffirmed the Yemeni people’s opposition to what it described as 12 years of aggression and blockade.

It also reiterated support for the security of Islam’s holy sites, including Mecca, Medina and Al-Aqsa Mosque, as well as support for the Palestinian struggle.

The statement called for continued backing of Yemen’s armed forces and urged the continuation of what it described as a policy of “blockade for blockade” and “escalation for escalation” in response to Saudi military actions.

It described Saudi Arabia’s allegation as a “grave crime and unforgivable falsehood,” claiming that the accusation was part of an attempt to distort the historical identity of the Yemeni people.

The statement also cited a saying attributed to the Prophet Muhammad: “Faith is from Yemen, and wisdom is from Yemen.”

It further said that Yemen’s leadership and armed forces had the right to respond appropriately to the allegation. The statement also reaffirmed support for what it called the “Axis of Resistance” in Palestine, Lebanon, Iraq and Iran, and pledged to continue supporting the Palestinians.

The demonstrators also called on governments and political parties around the world to stand for what they described as the truth and to protect the sanctity of Islam’s holy sites.

Mecca Yemen