Allies rally behind Saudi Arabia as Houthi attacks surge

Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Türkiye are preparing for an urgent high-level meeting under their joint defence agreement as Houthi attacks against Saudi Arabia intensify, raising concerns over regional security and energy supplies.

The three countries are expected to discuss measures to support Saudi Arabia following a series of attacks by Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi movement. Saudi authorities said the Houthis launched dozens of missiles and drones towards Saudi targets, while six ballistic missiles were intercepted.

Saudi Arabia had earlier issued emergency alerts for several areas, including Mecca, Jeddah and Yanbu. Yanbu is a major oil port on the Red Sea, making the latest attacks particularly significant for regional energy security.

The foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Türkiye held talks under the framework of the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement. They condemned attacks targeting Mecca and other civilian areas and reaffirmed Saudi Arabia’s right to defend itself.

The ministers also discussed arrangements for an emergency meeting between the three countries’ military chiefs. Under the defence agreement, an attack on one member is treated as an attack on all three parties.

The developments come as fighting involving the Houthis has intensified in Yemen. The group has targeted Saudi-backed forces in Yemen and has repeatedly launched attacks towards Saudi territory.

Saudi Arabia’s senior religious authority has also called on the kingdom’s armed forces to remain prepared to fight the Houthis until the group is removed from power.

Meanwhile, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian sought to distance Tehran from the Houthis during an interview with US television. He said the group was responsible for its own military actions.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also said Tehran had presented a proposal to Washington through intermediaries concerning the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.

Under the proposal, according to Araghchi, hostilities would end across the region within seven days. He said the United States would also need to lift its blockade of Iranian ports, release frozen Iranian funds and waive oil-related sanctions.

Araghchi said Iran would reopen the Strait of Hormuz on the final day of the proposed arrangement, after which negotiations on other issues, including Tehran’s nuclear programme, could begin.

The conflict has already disrupted international energy markets and shipping routes. The Houthis have affected maritime traffic near the Red Sea, while restrictions around the Strait of Hormuz have threatened a major route for global oil shipments.

The Strait of Hormuz normally carries a significant share of the world’s oil exports, making any prolonged disruption a major concern for energy-importing countries.

Iran’s relationship with the Houthis remains a subject of debate among security experts. While Tehran has sought to distance itself from the group’s actions, Yemeni, Iranian and regional sources have said that Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has provided guidance to Houthi forces during their recent advances.

The wider regional conflict has also affected Saudi Arabia’s energy infrastructure. An attack by Iran-aligned militias in Iraq temporarily disrupted the kingdom’s East-West oil pipeline, while Houthi attacks have affected shipping near the Red Sea.

At the same time, Washington has expanded its sanctions strategy against Iran by targeting companies in third countries that conduct business with Iranian entities.

Several Iranian airlines were barred from operating in neighbouring countries, including the United Arab Emirates and Oman, following the latest US sanctions. The restrictions could further isolate Iran and add to the economic difficulties already facing the country.