Saudi Arabia is seeking greater support from regional allies as attacks by Yemen’s Houthi movement intensify, with Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Pakistan preparing for an urgent meeting of their military chiefs to discuss ways of supporting the kingdom.
The development comes after a series of missile and drone attacks attributed to the Houthis, increasing concerns about the security of Saudi territory and critical energy infrastructure along the Red Sea.
Saudi, Turkish and Pakistani foreign ministers met under the framework of the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement and discussed arrangements for an urgent meeting involving the three countries’ chiefs of staff. According to Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Ministry, the agreement provides that an attack against one of the parties constitutes an attack against all three.
The planned military meeting does not, however, mean that Türkiye or Pakistan have announced direct military intervention against the Houthis. The exact nature of any assistance to Saudi Arabia remains to be determined.
The talks follow an escalation in Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia. Saudi authorities said their forces intercepted six ballistic missiles launched from Yemen. The Saudi-led coalition said the missiles were heading towards Taif in western Saudi Arabia and the Yanbu area on the Red Sea.
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The Houthis separately claimed that they had launched attacks against targets in Saudi Arabia, including what they described as a sensitive target in Riyadh and facilities belonging to Saudi state oil company Aramco in Yanbu. Saudi authorities did not immediately confirm damage from those claimed attacks.
Yanbu is particularly significant because it is a major Saudi oil and industrial centre on the Red Sea. The port provides Saudi Arabia with an important route for exporting oil without relying entirely on the Persian Gulf.
The attacks are therefore taking place at a sensitive time for international energy markets. Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has already been disrupted by the wider conflict involving Iran, while attacks around the Red Sea could create additional difficulties for the movement of energy supplies.
Oil markets reacted to the developments, although prices later moved lower on Friday as traders also assessed the possibility of a truce between the United States and Iran. Reuters reported that Brent crude was down about 1.1% at $105.46 a barrel in morning trading on Friday.
Saudi Arabia has also received support from France. French President Emmanuel Macron said France would send soldiers, radar equipment and defence systems to protect the Yanbu oil terminal. Macron said the deployment was intended to protect the site rather than involve France directly in the wider conflict.
The French move adds another layer to the international response as Saudi Arabia attempts to protect important infrastructure from further attacks.
Türkiye has also indicated its willingness to support Saudi Arabia under the defence agreement. The three-country arrangement was signed in August and has established a framework for closer political and military cooperation.
The agreement could eventually have a wider regional dimension. Turkey’s parliament speaker said on Friday that the defence pact could develop into a broader arrangement involving other Muslim-majority countries, including Iran. Reuters reported that the proposed expansion was expected to be submitted for ratification from next month.
Meanwhile, Iran has sought to distance itself from the Houthis’ military actions. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said in an interview that the Houthis were responsible for their own actions. His comments came as diplomatic efforts continued over the wider conflict involving Iran and the United States.
The Houthi movement has been fighting the internationally recognised Yemeni government for years and has increasingly become involved in the wider regional conflict. Its attacks have raised concerns about both Saudi security and maritime trade around the Red Sea.
For Saudi Arabia, the immediate challenge is to defend its territory and vital infrastructure while working with its allies to prevent further escalation.
The planned meeting between Saudi, Turkish and Pakistani military chiefs will therefore be closely watched for indications of what practical assistance the kingdom could receive under the Makkah defense agreement.
Saudi Arabia’s response is centered on strengthening cooperation with its regional and international partners as Houthi attacks continue, while diplomatic efforts remain underway to contain the broader conflict and protect vital energy and shipping routes.
