SANAA — Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi movement has intensified attacks against Saudi Arabia and targets in and around Yemen, raising tensions as Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Pakistan move to deepen military cooperation under a new joint defence agreement.
The Houthis launched missiles and drones toward Saudi Arabia in recent days, according to Saudi authorities and regional officials. Saudi military officials said some attacks were intercepted, while reports indicated casualties and damage in areas near the Yemeni border. The Houthis have also continued attacks in Yemen, including strikes around the central city of Marib.
The escalation follows the breakdown of a years-long period of relative calm between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis. Reuters reported in July that the group had resumed missile attacks against Saudi Arabia after accusing Riyadh and allied forces of carrying out strikes in Yemen. Saudi-led forces subsequently conducted airstrikes against Houthi military sites in the Red Sea port city of Hodeidah.
The Houthis have also threatened Saudi-linked shipping. The Arab League said in July that it condemned a Houthi attack on a Saudi vessel in the Red Sea and called for an end to actions threatening international navigation.
The latest escalation coincides with a broader effort by Saudi Arabia to strengthen regional security arrangements. Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Pakistan signed a joint defence agreement in Mecca on Friday, according to reports, with the agreement providing for collective defence in the event of an armed attack against one of the members. The pact comes after Saudi Arabia and Pakistan signed a separate strategic mutual defence agreement in 2025 that similarly stated an attack on either country would be treated as an attack on both.
The agreement does not, however, publicly establish that Türkiye or Pakistan will participate in military operations against the Houthis, and there was no immediate official indication that the pact had been invoked.
United Nations Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg warned on Friday that the country faced a growing risk of renewed large-scale conflict as fighting intensified.
Saudi officials have repeatedly condemned Houthi cross-border attacks, while Yemen’s internationally recognized government has accused the group of undermining efforts toward peace and regional stability.
The Houthis have not indicated that they will halt their campaign, while Saudi Arabia and its partners have continued to strengthen their defensive posture.
