Pakistan delivers warning to Iran demanding it rein in Yemen's Houthis

Pakistan has delivered a warning from Saudi Arabia to Iran, demanding that Tehran rein in Yemen's Houthi rebels following an escalation of their attacks on the kingdom, Reuters reports, citing Saudi, Pakistani and Iranian officials and diplomats. Sources describe it as a coordinated diplomatic effort aimed at preventing further escalation from turning into a large-scale regional crisis.

On Tuesday, September 8, the Houthis struck an air base in the city of Khamis Mushait, along with oil infrastructure facilities in neighbouring cities. The attack left 73 people injured. In response, Saudi aircraft struck militant positions in Yemen. A spokesman for the Houthi armed forces, Yahya Saree, said the kingdom's air force carried out 54 airstrikes across several Yemeni provinces over 12 hours, adding that they would not go unanswered.

Defence pact adds pressure

Islamabad's warning carries particular weight because of an active defence pact between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey. Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif stressed that shifting the fighting onto Saudi territory could trigger the collective defence mechanism. Speaking on Pakistani television, he said aggression against any one of the three countries would be treated as aggression against all three, and that unprovoked aggression or the spillover of attacks onto Saudi territory would clearly activate the agreement. At the same time, officials in Islamabad emphasise that their involvement would be limited to defending the kingdom's borders.

A regional diplomat said Islamabad is seeking a diplomatic solution and wants Iran to rein in its proxy, the Houthis, before Saudi Arabia demands direct military intervention from Pakistan.

Iran denies control over Houthis

A senior Iranian official confirmed receiving the warning but responded that Tehran allegedly does not control the Houthis. However, two Iranian sources said Tehran instructed the Houthis last week to carry out attacks on Saudi Arabia, promising additional funding and weapons, with several Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps commanders travelling to Yemen to help coordinate the strikes.

Saudi officials have already met with Pakistani and Turkish military leadership in Riyadh to work out joint steps. The parties agreed their armed forces would not enter Yemen and that any response would be carried out only from Saudi territory. One Pakistani source said a final decision on joining retaliatory strikes has not yet been made — if needed, Pakistan could provide ground, air or technical support within Saudi borders, but would not fight on the territory of other states.