Uzbekistan condemns Houthi drone attack targeting Mecca

Uzbekistan on Thursday strongly condemned a Houthi drone attack targeting the holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia.

The Uzbek Foreign Ministry on Telegram expressed full solidarity with Saudi Arabia, stressing that it considers any actions that pose a threat to holy sites, civilians, or civilian infrastructure unacceptable.

Tashkent urged all sides to exercise “maximum restraint,” strictly comply with international law, and respect the sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity of states.

“We support efforts aimed at reducing tensions, preventing further spread of the conflict, and ensuring peace, security and stability in region,” it said in the statement.

Yemen has been gripped by war since the Houthis seized the capital Sanaa in 2014, prompting a Saudi-led Arab coalition to intervene in 2015 in support of the internationally recognized Yemeni government.

The rebel group has been engaged in renewed fighting with government forces since July, when it declared a maritime blockade on Riyadh, and has recently claimed advances along the Red Sea coast and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. The Houthis have also targeted the oil infrastructure of Saudi Arabia.

The Saudi-led coalition said early Wednesday that Saudi air defenses intercepted and destroyed a drone launched by Yemen’s Houthi group south of Mecca before it entered the holy city's restricted airspace.