DOMINANT ANGLE
Paris is particularly mindful of the wave of condemnations from the Muslim world following the Saudi accusation against the Houthis, and reports the latter's denial without being able to settle the matter.
Dominant angle identified — does not reflect unanimity of this country’s media
KEY POINTS
- 01
The Riyadh-led coalition claims a drone struck the Taibah power station, which supplies the Prophet's Mosque in Medina, on Tuesday, September 29 at 5:11 am.
- 02
The Arab League denounces a "dangerous escalation"; Qatar, Turkey, and Sudan condemn, while the Houthis deny any responsibility.
- 03
The coalition says it intercepted three missiles and four drones, and the Yemeni army announces 13 airstrikes against Houthi areas.
ANALYSIS
Paris, October 2, 2026. The French press, led by France 24 and BFMTV, reports the accusation made on Thursday, October 1, by Saudi Arabia: pro-Iranian Houthi rebels in Yemen allegedly targeted an electrical infrastructure in Medina that powers the Prophet's Mosque. According to the military coalition led by Riyadh, the attack took place on Tuesday, September 29, in the morning.
The coalition's statement, published on X, speaks of a "cowardly attack" targeting a civilian infrastructure. According to the English version of France 24, the spokesperson, Major General Turki al-Maliki, located the strike at 5:11 am and mentioned a drone hitting the Taibah distribution station; a transformer was put out of service without affecting the general power grid. The Houthis reject any responsibility, through the voice of Mehdi al-Machat, head of the Supreme Political Council, cited by the Almasirah channel, and denounce "a Saudi aggression" against Sanaa, where AFP correspondents heard three powerful explosions on Thursday evening.
The coverage emphasizes the chain of reactions. The Arab League has denounced a "dangerous escalation". Qatar, Turkey, and Sudan have condemned the attack; Doha sees it as a "serious violation of the sacred character of Islam's holy sites". The Yemeni government speaks of a "flagrant violation" and holds the Houthis and Iran responsible. France 24 notes that this is the second accusation of an attack on a holy site.
On the military front, the coalition claims to have intercepted three missiles and four drones in the south of the kingdom on Thursday evening and Friday morning. The regular Yemeni army announces 13 "precision airstrikes" against areas held by the Houthis. The latter have intensified their fire against Saudi Arabia since their deadly offensive at the beginning of September against the government forces recognized by the international community.
French articles rely mainly on the coalition's and the Yemeni government's statements, as well as on AFP dispatches. The Houthi denial is reported, without the texts mentioning any independent verification of the attribution.
