ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: Pakistan warned Iran to use its influence to restrain Yemen’s Houthis after attacks on Saudi Arabia wounded 73 people and triggered retaliatory Saudi airstrikes.
Saudi, Pakistani and Iranian sources told Reuters that Islamabad conveyed Riyadh’s message to Tehran as officials sought to prevent the confrontation from widening into a broader regional conflict.
The Houthis struck an airbase at Khamis Mushait and oil infrastructure in nearby Saudi cities on Tuesday. Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree said Saudi aircraft later carried out 54 strikes across Yemen over a 12-hour period. He said the attacks would draw a response.
A senior Iranian official confirmed that Pakistan delivered the message but said Tehran’s position was that Iran “does not control the Houthis.”
However, two Iranian sources told Reuters that Tehran had encouraged the Houthis to attack Saudi Arabia and promised additional funding and weapons. The supplied material did not independently confirm those claims.
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Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said an attack or spillover into Saudi territory could activate a joint security arrangement involving Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey.
Pakistani sources stressed that Islamabad’s military role would remain defensive and limited to Saudi territory. They said no decision had been made to join retaliatory strikes inside Yemen.
Saudi, Pakistani and Turkish military representatives have also held talks in Riyadh on their response, according to a Pakistani source.
