Pakistan has strongly condemned the ongoing Houthi attacks targeting Saudi Arabia, reaffirming its full support for the kingdom’s right to defend its territory, protect its citizens, and secure national assets from any threats. This stance was articulated during the United Nations Security Council meeting on Yemen held on Tuesday by Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad.

Ambassador Ahmad highlighted that the military escalation by the Houthis within Yemen, coupled with their persistent attacks on Saudi Arabia and recent developments along the Red Sea coast, have pushed the conflict into a highly perilous phase. He expressed Pakistan’s vehement condemnation of all such attacks against Saudi Arabia.

These remarks come amid renewed tensions in the Middle East. Saudi Arabia announced that its air defenses intercepted a Houthi drone south of Makkah before it could enter the restricted airspace over the holy city. This drone, intercepted on Tuesday evening, marked the second attempt by the Houthis to target Makkah, a spokesperson for the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen. However, Houthi officials have denied any intention to strike Makkah.

The incident follows a series of Houthi attacks over the past week, which have further entangled Riyadh in the conflict. During his address to the UNSC, Ambassador Ahmad recalled Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif’s conversation with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, in which the prime minister condemned the attacks and emphasized their threat to regional peace and stability, as well as their serious implications for the global economy and energy security.

In a significant development, Pakistan pledged to persist with its highest-level efforts to ease tensions and promote peace and stability throughout the region. The country reiterated its steadfast support for Saudi Arabia’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, security, and prosperity, affirming Islamabad’s full endorsement of the kingdom’s legitimate right to take all necessary measures to defend itself against any threats.

The envoy also pointed out that the Houthis’ increased attacks around Bab al-Mandab, a crucial maritime passage, constitute a grave escalation. Alongside ongoing violations of international law targeting commercial shipping, these actions pose a mounting risk to freedom of navigation and the uninterrupted flow of global maritime trade.

Ambassador Ahmad warned that any attempts to threaten, obstruct, or militarize these waterways would have severe repercussions for international commerce, supply chains, and energy security. He expressed concern that the relative calm in Yemen since 2022 has deteriorated, cautioning that continued escalation might reignite a full-scale conflict and draw Yemen deeper into the wider regional confrontation—a scenario that must be averted.

Highlighting the dire humanitarian situation in Yemen, the ambassador noted that the recent developments have worsened the plight of the Yemeni people. Pakistan reaffirmed its support for restarting an inclusive, Yemeni-led, and Yemeni-owned political process under UN auspices. It committed to backing all genuine efforts aimed at de-escalation, dialogue, and a comprehensive political settlement capable of delivering lasting peace and stability to Yemen and the broader region.