Houthi Leader: Saudi Arabia Is Using Mecca “as a Banner of War” — Claims 200 U.S. Troops Are Coordinating Saudi Airstrikes

Houthi leader Abdul Malik al-Houthi on Thursday accused Saudi Arabia of using the holy city of Mecca “as a banner of war” to rally support for its military campaign against Yemen, in a speech addressed to the Yemeni people and the world.

According to Al Jazeera, al-Houthi said that 200 U.S. soldiers are currently in Saudi Arabia and that they are “primarily” orchestrating and coordinating the Saudi airstrikes that have bombed Houthi-controlled areas. He claimed that more than 450 Saudi airstrikes have been carried out in just the past two days, hitting areas from the Marib and al-Jawf provinces in the north to al-Bayda and Lahij in the center and south, as well as western Taiz, where the fiercest clashes are taking place.

The Houthi leader again denied that his forces targeted Mecca, calling the Saudi claim an “ugly lie” meant to compensate, he said, for battlefield failures. He said the Houthis act in accordance with Islamic and ethical principles and target only Saudi military objectives and oil infrastructure.

The speech was met with skepticism by analysts: Nawaf Obaid, a security and intelligence analyst, told Al Jazeera that al-Houthi’s discourse is “entirely steeped in conspiracy theories,” noting that despite repeated promises never to strike Mecca, drones are being sent toward the city and the wider region.

Meanwhile, Mohamad Elmasry, a professor at the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies, said Saudi Arabia and the Houthis are engaged in a “war of words” aimed more at Muslim audiences worldwide than at each other, as Riyadh seeks to rally support from other Muslim governments and militaries.

Source: Al Jazeera — https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2026/9/17/iran-war-live-trump-says-us-nearing-end-of-war-claims-tehran-direct-talks