Gulf states have condemned a drone attack reportedly carried out by Houthis on a power distribution station in Saudi Arabia that provides electricity to the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah, one of Islam’s holiest sites.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain and Kuwait issued separate statements denouncing the attack, which Saudi authorities said was carried out by the Iran-backed Houthis early on Tuesday.

In a statement on Thursday, the UAE described the attack as a “flagrant violation” of Saudi sovereignty, while Bahrain called on the UN security council to take a firm stance against repeated Houthi attacks on civilian infrastructure

Turki Al-Maliki, spokesperson of the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen, said the attacks were a deliberate attempt to provoke the feelings of millions of Muslims worldwide.

However, a Houthi military source quoted by the Houthi-run Saba news agency denied the accusation, describing it as a “lie”.

The Houthi official said the allegation was intended to cover up what he described as Saudi Arabia’s failure to substantiate its earlier accusation that the militia had targeted the Muslim holy city of Makkah.

The development follows renewed Houthis attacks on Saudi Arabia.

Two weeks ago, Saudi Arabia said it had intercepted and destroyed a Houthi drone south of Makkah before it entered restricted airspace over the city.