Saudi Arabian forces shot down an unmanned aerial vehicle south of the holy city of Mecca. Uzbekistan condemned this attempted attack.
The ministry's statement expressed full solidarity with Saudi Arabia and emphasized that any actions threatening holy sites, civilian populations, and civil infrastructure are unacceptable.
Uzbekistan called on all parties to exercise restraint, adhere to international law norms, and respect the sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity of states.
This concerns an incident that occurred on September 15. The coalition led by Saudi Arabia reported that the drone aimed at Mecca was intercepted and destroyed south of the city before it could penetrate restricted airspace. The Saudi side stated that the drone was launched by the Houthis from Yemen.
The Houthis, in turn, rejected claims that they were targeting Mecca or other religious sanctuaries.
Uzbekistan stated that it supports efforts to de-escalate tensions in the region, prevent further spread of conflict, and ensure peace, security, and stability.