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Saudi coalition blames Houthis for Medina power-station attack

The Saudi-led coalition attributed a September 29 attack on a Medina electricity distribution facility to the Houthis, who rejected the accusation. Its spokesperson said one transformer was disabled but the wider network kept operating. The October 1 announcement rests on the coalition’s examination of drone remains; responsibility has not been independently established.

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A military speaker representing the Saudi coalition addresses journalists beside a Saudi flag.

Coalition assigns responsibility; Houthis reject it

The Saudi-led coalition fighting in Yemen’s conflict accused the Houthis of attacking an electricity distribution facility in Medina, Saudi Arabia, on September 29. Coalition spokesperson Turki al-Maliki announced the attribution on October 1. The Houthis, the Yemeni armed movement also known as Ansarallah, denied responsibility. Houthi political bureau member Dhaifallah al-Shami called the accusation fabricated, leaving the two sides’ accounts in direct opposition.[1], [2]

Drone remains form the coalition’s stated basis

Al-Maliki said investigators had examined drone wreckage and concluded that the Houthis were involved in planning the attack. The wreckage and the coalition’s investigative conclusions have not been independently verified. Al-Shami referred to earlier Saudi accusations concerning Mecca when rejecting the new allegation. His denial addresses the coalition’s attribution; it does not supply an independently established explanation of who attacked the Medina facility.[1]

One transformer was disabled, according to the coalition

The coalition spokesperson said the attack disabled one transformer while the wider electricity network remained operational. He also said the facility supplies the Prophet’s Mosque in Medina. Those details describe the damage and the site’s function in the coalition’s account. The announced attribution came two days after the incident. No independent finding identifying the perpetrator had resolved the dispute between the coalition and the Houthis.[1]

References

  1. News sourceAl JazeeraSaudi coalition blames Houthis for Medina attack; Houthis deny allegation↩1↩2↩3
  2. News sourceShafaq NewsSaudi coalition blames Houthis for Medina power-station attack↩
Chip wars and the supply chainRussia-Ukraine warMiddle East balance of power

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