Al-Azhar condemns Houthi attacks near Mecca and Medina

Al-Azhar's Grand Imam Ahmed al-Tayeb has renewed his condemnation of attacks directed towards Mecca and Medina, calling for an urgent mediation committee to help ease regional conflicts, the Egyptian religious institution said on 26 October.

Saudi air defences intercepted the latest attacks near the holy sites, according to Al-Azhar's statement. The institution also condemned attacks on civilian facilities in Saudi Arabia and called for an immediate halt to hostilities.

Al-Tayeb said the attacks threatened the sanctity of Islam's holiest places and the safety of Saudi residents, visitors and pilgrims. He described them as an affront to the religious feelings of nearly two billion Muslims worldwide, according to the statement.

Al-Azhar called for a committee of respected figures from across the Muslim world to mediate between opposing parties and work towards de-escalation. The proposed body would seek to resolve disputes and reduce the risk of further conflict, the institution said.

The statement follows a renewed escalation in cross-border attacks between Saudi Arabia and Yemen's Houthi movement. The conflict has intensified since July 2026, with Saudi authorities reporting increased missile and drone activity targeting airports, oil infrastructure and military sites, Anadolu Agency reported on 26 October.

The latest incidents have also produced competing accounts of the intended targets. Saudi Arabia's Civil Defence reported missile debris in the Mecca and Medina regions after interceptions, while the Houthis denied targeting the two holy cities and said their operations focused on Saudi oil facilities and military bases, Reuters reported on 24 October.

The dispute over the targets is important to the interpretation of Al-Azhar's condemnation. The institution described the incidents as Houthi attacks, while the movement's denial, reported by Reuters, challenges that attribution. The available accounts do not independently establish the intended targets of every intercepted missile.

Al-Azhar has previously condemned threats to Mecca. On 16 September, it criticised an attempt to target the city after a Saudi-led coalition said it had intercepted a drone south of Mecca before it entered restricted airspace. The coalition accused the Houthis of launching the drone, while the group denied targeting the city, Ahram Online reported.

The renewed appeal for mediation comes as the Saudi-led coalition and the Houthis continue to exchange attacks. Al-Azhar's latest statement did not set a timetable for establishing the proposed committee.

A separate claim that a Houthi religious authority demanded the withdrawal of Al-Azhar's statement could not be independently verified from the sources reviewed.