Houthi Threat Reaches Mecca, Pakistan Hides Behind 'Ops' To Avoid Saudi Fight - NDTV
The Houthis have stepped up attacks that now threaten Mecca and Saudi oil assets, while Pakistan is reportedly providing covert support to Saudi forces without overt involvement. Regional powers, including the UAE, have condemned the strikes, warning that the conflict could broaden into a larger security crisis.
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The Houthis have stepped up attacks that now threaten Mecca and Saudi oil assets, while Pakistan is reportedly providing covert support to Saudi forces without overt involvement. Regional powers, including the UAE, have condemned the strikes, warning that the conflict could broaden into a larger security crisis.
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**Houthi Threat Extends to Mecca as Regional Tensions Escalate**
Yemeni Houthi fighters have intensified their campaign against Saudi Arabia, claiming a series of missile and drone strikes on Saudi Aramco facilities and a military air base, while also alleging that Riyadh conducted roughly 40 airstrikes over a 24‑hour period in Yemen. The attacks, reported by outlets including *NDTV* and *Khaama Press*, mark the first time the militants have explicitly cited the holy city of Mecca as a target, raising alarms over the security of the Islamic world’s most sacred site. Clashes between Yemeni government forces and Houthi units have also erupted near the Saudi border, as noted by *Al‑Monitor*, underscoring the growing proximity of the conflict to Saudi territory.
Amid the heightened hostilities, Pakistan has come under scrutiny for what analysts describe as “operational cover” designed to shield it from a direct showdown with Saudi Arabia. Sources cited by *NDTV* suggest that Pakistani military and intelligence agencies are providing covert logistical and advisory support to Saudi-aligned forces in Yemen while publicly maintaining a low‑profile stance. This strategy appears intended to preserve Pakistan’s strategic partnership with Riyadh without entangling itself overtly in the escalating cross‑border exchanges, a delicate balancing act given the historic ties between the two nations.
The expanding confrontation has prompted regional actors to voice condemnation and concern. The United Arab Emirates, a key Saudi ally, denounced the Houthi attacks as violations of international law, calling for a unified response to protect critical energy infrastructure and the sanctity of Mecca. International observers warn that the conflation of a localized Yemeni insurgency with threats to global religious sites could draw broader coalitions into the fray, potentially destabilizing the Red Sea corridor and complicating diplomatic efforts aimed at a cease‑fire in Yemen.
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