Yemen's Houthis Escalate Deadly Attacks on Saudi-Backed Troops; Regional Powers Sign Defense Pact

Yemen's eastern city of Marib was again targeted by Houthi rebels on Friday, with fresh missile and drone attacks striking Saudi-backed government positions. This latest assault comes just a day after a series of strikes on military sites left dozens dead and wounded.

Yemeni armed forces reported shooting down several Houthi drones over Marib, while social media videos depicted smoke rising above the city. The Houthi military spokesman, Yahya Saree, claimed a "large-scale and special military operation" on Thursday targeted Saudi military build-ups in Marib and Hadramawt, alleging hundreds of soldiers were killed or wounded and military facilities destroyed. However, the Saudi-backed Yemeni Joint Operations Command confirmed 17 soldiers and officers died, with AFP reporting a higher toll of at least 58 government troops.

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The Agreement is intended to strengthen collective deterrence against any act of aggression, and stipulates that any armed attack against any one of the three States shall be regarded as an attack against them all. It further provides for the enhancement of all aspects of defence cooperation among the three States.

In parallel, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan announced a significant defense agreement on Friday, aiming to bolster cooperation between the three regional powers amidst escalating security concerns. The accord, signed during a meeting of their leaders in Saudi Arabia, stipulates that an armed attack against one signatory will be considered an attack against all three, intended to strengthen collective deterrence.

Meanwhile, Iran and Oman are reportedly nearing an agreement on new arrangements for the Strait of Hormuz, though not a full reopening of the vital waterway, according to Iran's state news agency. Separately, U.S. Senator Ted Cruz advocated for increased pressure on Iran's regime, including arming opposition groups, stating the objective should be "regime collapse."

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I think our objective should be regime collapse.