Pakistan warns Iran to rein in Houthis as Saudi-Houthi conflict escalates

Following a major Houthi missile and drone offensive on September 8, 2026, that wounded 73 people and struck Saudi Aramco facilities, Pakistan delivered a warning from Riyadh to Tehran to rein in its Yemeni allies. While Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif warned that the newly signed Mecca Joint Defence Agreement could be activated to defend Saudi territory, Pakistan's foreign ministry clarified that no immediate military response is under discussion. Meanwhile, Saudi forces retaliated with dozens of airstrikes as the Houthis captured the strategic port city of Mocha.

Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia

• ▪Houthi forces targeted King Khalid air base in Khamis Mushait and Abha International Airport during their September 8, 2026, offensive against Saudi Arabia
• ▪The Houthi attacks on southern Saudi Arabia on September 8, 2026, wounded at least 73 people and disrupted operations at state oil giant Aramco's energy facilities
• ▪Yemen's Houthi rebels launched missile and drone strikes on southern Saudi Arabia on September 8, 2026, hitting targets in Abha, Khamis Mushait, Jazan, and Najran

Mecca Defence Pact activation

• ▪Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif stated on September 8, 2026, that the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement would become operational if Saudi Arabia faces unprovoked aggression or a spillover of the Yemen conflict
• ▪Pakistan foreign ministry spokesperson Sajjad Haider Khan stated on September 10, 2026, that there were no active discussions about a military reaction from Islamabad under the Mecca agreement
• ▪The Mecca Joint Defence Agreement, signed on August 7, 2026, by Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Turkey, stipulates that an armed attack on any one signatory is regarded as an attack on all three

Pakistan warning to Iran

• ▪A senior Iranian official confirmed receiving Pakistan's message on September 8, 2026, but responded that Iran does not exercise control over the Houthis
• ▪Pakistan delivered a warning from Saudi Arabia to Iran on September 8, 2026, urging Tehran to use its influence to rein in Houthi attacks and prevent regional escalation

Iranian support for Houthis

• ▪Yemeni military sources stated that Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps commanders, believed to be led by Abdolreza Shahlaei, directed the Houthi advance along Yemen's Red Sea coast
• ▪Two Iranian sources stated that Tehran instructed the Houthis to launch the September 2026 attacks on Saudi Arabia, promising additional funding, weapons, and coordination support

Regional conflict escalation

• ▪The Houthis captured the southwestern port city of Mocha, strengthening their control over the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a vital global energy shipping corridor
• ▪Saudi Arabia retaliated against the Houthi strikes by launching dozens of overnight airstrikes targeting Yemeni provinces including Taiz, Hodeida, Jawf, and Marib

Debatable claims

• ▪Pakistan should militarily intervene to defend Saudi Arabia against Houthi attacks
• ▪Saudi Arabia should launch a major air campaign to halt Houthi advances