PM Shehbaz Backs Saudi Security After Houthi Missile Attacks

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday strongly condemned the latest attacks targeting Saudi Arabia, reaffirming Pakistan’s full support for the kingdom’s security at a time of renewed tension in the Middle East. His statement came after Saudi authorities said they had intercepted ballistic missiles fired toward the country’s southern region by Yemen’s Houthi movement.

The prime minister described the attacks as a serious violation of Saudi Arabia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, warning that such actions could further damage regional peace and stability. Islamabad’s response reflects Pakistan’s long-standing diplomatic position that threats to Saudi security carry direct strategic and political importance for Pakistan.

Shehbaz said Pakistan stood in complete solidarity with Saudi Arabia during what he called a critical moment. He added that Islamabad would continue supporting sincere efforts aimed at promoting peace, security, stability and mutual understanding across the region, particularly as the Yemen conflict shows signs of fresh escalation.

Pakistan’s reaction followed a separate statement at the United Nations Security Council, where Islamabad also condemned the missile attacks and called for de-escalation through dialogue and diplomacy. Pakistan’s deputy permanent representative to the UN, Ambassador Usman Jadoon, underlined support for Saudi Arabia’s security while also stressing respect for Yemen’s sovereignty and the need for an inclusive political settlement.

The latest flare-up came after Yemen’s internationally recognised government carried out an attack on Sanaa’s international airport. The Saudi-backed Yemeni authorities said the move was aimed at stopping an Iranian aircraft from landing in the Houthi-held capital after efforts failed to persuade a Houthi delegation to use Yemen’s national carrier instead.

Hours after the airport incident, Saudi Arabia reported that it had intercepted missiles launched toward its south. The renewed exchange marked one of the most serious escalations between the Yemeni government and the Houthis in years and raised concerns about the durability of a UN-brokered truce that had largely held since 2022.

Yemen has remained trapped in conflict since 2014, when the Houthis seized Sanaa and forced the internationally recognised government from the capital. A Saudi-led military intervention began the following year, turning Yemen into one of the region’s most prolonged and destructive conflicts, with repeated attempts at ceasefire arrangements failing to produce a final political settlement.

For Pakistan, the episode carries both diplomatic and strategic significance. Islamabad and Riyadh have deep defence, economic and religious ties, and Saudi Arabia remains a key partner for Pakistan in regional diplomacy, energy security and overseas employment. Any major instability involving the kingdom can have direct political, security and economic implications for Pakistan.

The development also comes months after Pakistan and Saudi Arabia signed a Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement in Riyadh, pledging that aggression against either country would be treated as aggression against both. That agreement has further elevated the importance of Pakistan’s public response whenever Saudi territory or security comes under threat.

The coming days will show whether diplomatic pressure can prevent the latest Yemen-related escalation from widening. Pakistan is expected to continue backing Saudi Arabia at international forums while supporting calls for dialogue, de-escalation and a negotiated political process to prevent another prolonged crisis in the region.