Saudi Arabia reaffirms commitment to linking diplomacy with humanitarian action

Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan are convening an urgent meeting under a joint defense pact to address support for the kingdom following a surge in attacks by Iran-aligned Houthis in Yemen. Tehran has distanced itself from the rapid advances of its Houthi allies. The Houthis have launched strikes against the Saudi-backed government in Yemen, firing into Saudi Arabia and disrupting oil flows from the world's largest energy exporter.

Saudi officials have reported intercepting six ballistic missiles fired by Houthi fighters. Saudi Arabia issued emergency alerts for areas including Mecca, Jeddah, and Yanbu, the main Saudi Red Sea oil port. The kingdom's top religious authority called on soldiers to be ready to lay down their lives to fight the Houthis until they are ousted from power.

Foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Turkey met within the framework of the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement to condemn the attacks on civilian sites and discuss arrangements for an urgent meeting of their chiefs of staff to support Saudi Arabia. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian distanced Iran from the Houthis during an interview with Fox News, stating that the Houthis are responsible for their own actions.

Iran's Foreign Minister proposed reopening the Strait of Hormuz if the US meets Iran's conditions, including ending hostilities and lifting its blockade on Iranian ports and oil sanctions. The US and Iran have largely stood down from direct combat in the war, but Iranian allies continue the conflict in the region. The Houthis have disrupted ship traffic at the Red Sea and effectively limited tanker traffic at the Strait of Hormuz, impacting 20% of the world's oil exports.

Security experts debate Iran's direct influence on the Houthis, but Yemeni and regional sources confirm Iran's guidance in the Houthis' advances down Yemen's Red Sea coast.