Houthi rebels strike Saudi forces in Yemen two days after regional defense pact formation

Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi rebels launched a significant missile and drone assault on Saudi Arabian forces stationed in the port city of Mocha on the Red Sea coast. The rebels claimed to have destroyed Saudi equipment and caused numerous casualties.

The attack occurred just two days after Saudi Arabia, along with Turkey and Pakistan, signed a collective defense agreement, dubbed the 'Middle East NATO.' This development has fueled concerns that the conflict, which began in Yemen in 2014, could expand across the region.

The Houthi spokesperson, Yahya Saree, stated that the operation targeted Saudi troop concentrations and armories, using ballistic missiles and drones. Local medical sources reported at least 11 deaths, including 8 soldiers and 3 civilians, and 32 injuries. Mocha's strategic location near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait makes it a crucial gateway for supplies and Saudi oil exports, bypassing Houthi-controlled ports.

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We carried out a large-scale precision strike operation targeting Saudi enemy troop concentrations and armories in the Mocha area.

In addition to the Mocha attack, the Houthis also claimed responsibility for a drone strike on a Saudi Aramco oil facility in Jizan. While Saudi authorities reported minor fires with no casualties, this facility, capable of processing 400,000 barrels of oil daily, had previously been targeted by the Houthis in late July, causing a two-day shutdown.

The escalating threats from Iran-backed groups like the Houthis and Hezbollah have prompted Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan to strengthen their defense ties. The agreement aims to enhance collective deterrence against aggression. However, analysts note potential challenges to long-term military cooperation due to differing regional interests and priorities among the three nations.

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We have strengthened collective deterrence against any act of aggression.