Houthis used Jeffrey Epstein files to accuse Saudi officials of sending Mecca's Kaaba tapes to Epstein's island, a claim aired in a September 2023 Houthi speech.
The accusation hinges on documents obtained from the Epstein case that list Saudi associates who allegedly transported the tapes—traditionally covering the Kaaba—to the former billionaire’s private Caribbean estate.
Saudi Arabia had earlier accused the Houthis of firing a drone at Mecca in an attempt to provoke Muslims; the militia has denied the charge and countered with the Epstein allegations to undermine the kingdom’s religious legitimacy.
Houthi president Mahdi al‑Mashat said, “Those who gave Epstein the Kaaba’s cover are the ones targeting Mecca,” a statement that echoes in Houthi propaganda as a rallying cry against Saudi aggression.
In response, Saudi officials dismissed the claims as a baseless smear, while the Saudi‑led coalition vowed to increase strikes on Houthi‑controlled infrastructure, citing the need to protect the kingdom’s security.
The next phase of the conflict will see intensified aerial attacks on Houthi positions during the upcoming Ramadan, according to a spokesperson for the Saudi Ministry of Defence.