Turkey, Pakistan, Egypt and Saudi Arabia have condemned Houthi attacks on Riyadh’s international airport, describing them as a dangerous escalation that threatens regional and international security.
The joint statement came after Saudi authorities reported that a new attack on the airport on Sunday killed one person and injured nearly a dozen others. A day earlier, a strike claimed by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi movement had killed 13 people and wounded more than 300, according to the report.
The four countries, which cooperate under a regional grouping known as the R4, reaffirmed their solidarity with Saudi Arabia and backed what they described as legitimate measures to counter the attacks, deter further threats and prevent similar incidents.
The group held the Houthis responsible for the consequences of the attacks and called for an immediate and unconditional halt to the strikes.
Stay ahead of the geopolitical week.
MD Briefing delivers expert analysis across five global fronts — the Indo-Pacific, energy, geoeconomics, European security, and the Middle East — every Monday morning. Free.
Turkey and Pakistan Face Pressure to Deliver on Defence Commitments
The condemnation comes as Turkey and Pakistan deepen their defence cooperation with Saudi Arabia. The two countries signed a joint defence pact with Riyadh in August, under which an attack on one party is treated as an attack on all.
Last week, the countries said they had agreed to implement their collective defence commitments and ensure the rapid deployment of forces and capabilities in Saudi Arabia amid the Houthi attacks.
However, Ankara has signalled limits to its military involvement. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said on Thursday that Turkey was assessing how it could assist Saudi Arabia but ruled out deploying troops or participating in offensive operations. Officials had earlier indicated that Ankara was providing mainly defensive and technical support to Riyadh.
Turkey’s support has so far largely taken place on a bilateral basis, as its parliament has yet to ratify the joint defence pact. The agreement is expected to be submitted to parliament in the coming days.
Red Sea Security Adds to Regional Concerns
Turkey’s potential role also reflects its broader security and economic interests in the region. A NATO member with the alliance’s second-largest army and a substantial defence industry, Turkey has supplied Saudi Arabia with defence equipment and agreed to join a Saudi-led coalition aimed at safeguarding navigation in the Red Sea.
The latest attacks put the regional partners under pressure to strengthen Saudi Arabia’s defences while avoiding a wider escalation. For Ankara and Islamabad, the challenge will be to translate their political commitments into practical support without becoming directly involved in offensive operations against the Houthis.
The extent of their response could also shape the credibility of their emerging defence arrangements and influence regional security cooperation as threats to Saudi Arabia and Red Sea shipping continue.
With information from Reuters.
