Saudi Arabia’s Grand Mufti Sheikh Saleh bin Fawzan Al-Fawzan urged troops to prepare to sacrifice their lives in fighting the Houthis, citing religious duty and national defense as he warned of escalating attacks by the Houthi movement.
Saudi Arabia’s Grand Mufti Sheikh Saleh bin Fawzan Al-Fawzan has called on military personnel to be prepared to sacrifice their lives in the fight against Yemen’s Houthi movement, framing the conflict as a religious and strategic imperative. The statement, issued through Saudi state media, comes amid a sharp escalation in Houthi attacks on Saudi territory and a growing regional standoff.
Religious Justification for Armed Struggle
The Grand Mufti’s message drew heavily on Quranic verses and Prophetic traditions, emphasizing that defending Saudi Arabia’s borders is a greatest duty and most virtuous act of devotion. He stated, “Protecting this great nation… and punishing anyone who seeks to lay a hand on even an inch of its territory are among the greatest duties and most virtuous acts of devotion, for which lives and souls may be sacrificed in seeking God’s pleasure,” according to Reuters. The statement also urged soldiers to obey commanders and carry out orders with the utmost precision, drawing parallels to the actions of the Prophet Muhammad’s companions.
The Grand Mufti described the Houthis as a “band of evil” that has divided the land and its people, accusing them of attacking mosques and destabilizing Yemen. He framed the conflict as part of a broader struggle to restore legitimate government in Yemen and protect the sacred sites of Muslims, including the Two Holy Mosques.
Escalating Houthi Attacks and Regional Tensions
The Houthis have intensified missile and drone strikes on Saudi cities, including attacks on Taif and Yanbu. In response, Saudi air defenses intercepted six ballistic missiles on Thursday, while the Houthis claimed to have targeted sensitive targets in Riyadh and Saudi Aramco facilities in Yanbu. The group has also advanced along Yemen’s Red Sea coast, capturing locations like Mokha and control of the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a critical maritime chokepoint.
The escalation has prompted Saudi Arabia to hold an urgent, high-level meeting under a joint defense pact, which includes Turkey and Pakistan. The three nations’ foreign ministers convened to discuss how to support Riyadh, with the pact’s mutual-defense clause likened to NATO’s Article 5 by analysts. Iran, meanwhile, has sought to distance itself from the Houthis, with Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei stating the group is an independent Yemeni actor.
Military and Diplomatic Implications
The Grand Mufti’s statement appeared as Saudi Arabia faces pressure to escalate its military response. The Houthis’ control of the Bab al-Mandab Strait has raised concerns about global trade, with ships passing through the waterway now vulnerable to disruption. The conflict, now in its 12th year, has become increasingly entangled with the broader Iran war.
Saudi Arabia’s military actions have included airstrikes on Houthi positions in Yemen, while authorities have accused the Houthis of launching an attack on Mecca. State TV has aired footage of alleged Houthi strikes on a mosque in the kingdom’s south. The Grand Mufti’s call underscores the religious framing of the conflict.
The next critical development will be whether Saudi Arabia’s allies move from statements to material support. The Mecca Joint Defense Agreement’s mutual-defense clause was tested once already on Sept. 8. The Grand Mufti’s message signals a hardening of Saudi rhetoric, with the kingdom framing the fight as both a religious duty and a strategic necessity to protect its territory.