Makkah is not a city like any other, nor is it a place that can be measured by geographical borders or the maps of politics and conflict. Makkah is the Qiblah of Muslims, a place toward which their hearts turn, the birthplace of the Message, and the sacred destination toward which millions of believers journey with hearts filled with faith and hope. That is why any attempt to target its skies with a hostile drone cannot be regarded as an ordinary military incident. It strikes at the feelings of millions of Muslims and touches the sanctity of the holiest place on earth. What happened on Tuesday evening, September 15, 2026, according to the statement by Major General Turki Al-Malki, the official spokesman for the Coalition to Support Legitimacy in Yemen, when the Royal Saudi Air Defense Forces intercepted and destroyed a hostile drone launched by the Houthi militia before it entered the prohibited airspace of the Holy City, raises a painful question: What message could possibly be carried by an attempt to target Makkah, other than an assault on a place chosen by God as the direction of prayer for Muslims?
As a Tunisian journalist, I express my strongest condemnation and unequivocal rejection of this hostile attempt to target the Holy City of Makkah. I firmly reject every act that could endanger the security of the Two Holy Mosques or threaten the safety of pilgrims, residents and visitors. The sanctity of Makkah cannot be subjected to political calculations or military conflicts. It is a sacred space whose significance transcends borders, nationalities and political positions. Millions of Muslims travel there from every corner of the world seeking peace, worship and spiritual tranquillity. It is therefore deeply distressing to see this blessed city become the target of a hostile act.
I strongly condemn the conduct of the Houthi militia and its attempt, according to the official statement, to target Makkah for the second time, following the launch of a ballistic missile toward the Holy City in 2017. Such attempts demand a clear moral and humanitarian stance. Whatever the nature of wars and conflicts, sacred places should never become targets. Makkah is not a battlefield, the Grand Mosque is not a military target, and the pilgrims are not parties to any conflict. Their safety, security and peace are fundamental rights. Protecting the Two Holy Mosques and safeguarding the pilgrims who come to them is a profound responsibility that should never be compromised.
“Except Makkah” — because there are places that must remain beyond the reach of conflict, places whose sanctity rises above political disputes and military calculations. Except Makkah, the Qiblah of Muslims and the sacred place toward which their hearts turn. Except the Grand Mosque, to which millions of people around the world are spiritually connected. From Tunisia, I join every voice that rejects any attempt to violate the sanctity of Makkah and condemns this hostile act. I also express my solidarity with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in its efforts to protect the security of the Two Holy Mosques and the safety of the pilgrims. Political positions may differ, but there should be no disagreement over the sanctity of holy places or the right of Makkah to remain what Muslims have always known it to be: safe, peaceful and reassuring.
TunisianMonitorNews (By : Dbouha Essaafi)
