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Pakistan Warns Iran Over Houthi Attacks on Saudi Arabia. Pakistan has warned Iran to rein in the Houthi militia after the Yemeni group stepped up attacks on oil facilities in southern Saudi Arabia, according to sources in Islamabad. The Houthis have fired ballistic missiles at targets in the country this week, prompting Saudi Arabia to respond with airstrikes. The escalation risks opening a new front in the wider Middle East conflict, as the United States continues military operations against Iranian territory and naval assets around the Strait of Hormuz. Pakistan has close defence ties with Saudi Arabia and has been mediating between Washington and Tehran since March. Islamabad signed a bilateral defence agreement with Riyadh last year and also joined a trilateral defence pact with Saudi Arabia and Turkey this year. Under those arrangements, Pakistan has already deployed fighter jets, air force personnel and ground troops to Saudi Arabia to help defend the kingdom. Pakistani forces are not expected to participate directly in Saudi airstrikes against the Houthis, but Pakistan could activate its air-defence systems if further attacks threaten Saudi territory. The Houthi threat was also discussed during a visit to Tehran last week by Pakistan’s military chief, General Asim Munir, according to one of the sources.
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