Pakistan Urges Iran to Help Curb Houthis as Riyadh Strikes Back

Pakistan Urges Iran to Help Curb Houthis as Riyadh Strikes Back

Sources from Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Iran said that Pakistan had delivered a warning message from Saudi Arabia to Iran, urging it to restrain its ally, the Houthi group in Yemen, after the group stepped up attacks against the kingdom. The message emphasized that this was a joint effort to prevent the crisis from escalating into a more serious situation.

On Tuesday (September 8, 2026), the Houthis attacked an air base in Khamis Mushait and oil infrastructure in nearby cities, injuring 73 people. It was one of the largest attacks on Saudi Arabia since the conflict between the United States-Israel and Iran began in February.

Yahya Saree, the Houthi military spokesperson, said on Wednesday that Saudi fighter jets had carried out 54 airstrikes across several Yemeni provinces over the previous 12 hours. He added that such actions “will not be allowed to pass without a response or punishment.”

Regarding Pakistan’s warning to Iran, it is considered particularly significant because Pakistan has defense agreements with Saudi Arabia and Turkey. Although officials in Islamabad have emphasized that any military role would be limited to defending Saudi territory, Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Asif said that attacks extending into Saudi territory could trigger the implementation of a joint security agreement between Riyadh, Ankara, and Islamabad.

Asif said on Pakistani television, “An aggression against one country will be considered aggression against all three countries.”

Pakistan’s Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and military did not respond to requests for comment from Reuters.