Houthi missile attacks on Saudi airports: PM Shehbaz says Pakistan stands "shoulder to shoulder" with Riyadh under the Makkah defence pact

Key takeaways

• Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis have stepped up missile attacks on Saudi Arabia, targeting King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh and Abha International Airport. Saudi officials say three people were killed this week.
• The Houthis have told workers to stay away from Saudi energy plants, saying they will be targeted.
• PM Shehbaz Sharif "strongly condemned" the attacks and said Pakistan's commitment to the kingdom's security under the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement is "resolute".
• France has offered "strictly defensive" help to protect Saudi energy sites; Turkey is sending defensive and technical support.
• Flights are being disrupted: Lufthansa and Air India have suspended flights to Riyadh.

What Pakistan said

In a statement posted early on Friday on the Prime Minister's Office account, Shehbaz Sharif:

• condemned the "repeated terrorist attacks" by the Houthi militia, including on Riyadh and Abha airports;
• praised Saudi forces and the coalition for intercepting several ballistic missiles;
• said that, in line with the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement and recent decisions by its Strategic Political and Defence Committee, Pakistan's commitment to Saudi Arabia's sovereignty and security is "resolute";
• backed Saudi Arabia's "legitimate right to defend its people" and its infrastructure, and demanded that the Houthis "immediately cease" the attacks.

"We will continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with Saudi Arabia in the face of these threats." — PM Shehbaz Sharif

The Makkah Joint Defence Agreement is the mutual defence pact signed by Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye. The PM's statement did not say whether Pakistan will send any troops or equipment. Reuters reports that Riyadh has asked allies, including Pakistan and Turkey, for help, "even if only in a logistical or defensive capacity".

What is happening in Saudi Arabia

According to Reuters, as carried by The Express Tribune:

• The Houthis say they struck Riyadh airport. Shrapnel set a parked Saudia passenger plane on fire, leaving it badly damaged; no passengers were believed to be on board.
• Debris from an intercepted missile hit a kindergarten and a medical complex in Riyadh, Saudi officials said.
• The Saudi-led coalition said it destroyed two ballistic missiles fired at Riyadh and another at Khamis Mushayt, home to a major airbase.
• Almost half of departures from Riyadh airport were cancelled by mid-afternoon on Thursday, aviation data firm Cirium said. Some companies in Riyadh's financial district told staff to work from home.

The Houthis say they are attacking Saudi Arabia over its support for Yemeni government forces in the country's reignited civil war. Fighting resumed in recent weeks after a ceasefire that had held since 2022; the Houthis seized parts of the Red Sea coast, including along the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, and about 200,000 people have been displaced. Reuters describes the conflict as an overspill of the wider US–Iran war.

Who else is stepping in

• France: its Foreign Ministry said it is willing to help protect Saudi energy infrastructure "in a strictly defensive manner", especially the Yanbu oil port and the East-West Pipeline.
• Turkey: said it is sending mainly defensive and technical support, expected to include equipment, intelligence sharing and weapons systems.
• Syria: a US and a Syrian defence official told Reuters that Damascus is considering options, though a Syrian diplomat said its focus remains on recovery at home.

Why it matters for Pakistan

Saudi Arabia is one of the biggest destinations for Pakistani workers and a key economic partner, and the two countries are now bound by a joint defence pact. Any wider role for Pakistan — or more disruption to Gulf flights and oil — would be felt directly at home. If you or your family are travelling to Riyadh, check with your airline before leaving for the airport.

This is a developing story. We will update it as Pakistan's government and the Saudi authorities give more details.