Pakistan has condemned ballistic missile attacks by Yemen’s Houthis aimed at Saudi Arabia’s Makkah and Madina regions, including areas near the holy sites. The Foreign Office issued the statement on Monday, affirming Islamabad’s commitment to the kingdom’s security under the two countries’ defence cooperation agreements.
In the statement, the ministry described the October 24 attacks as a serious breach of Saudi Arabia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. It said the strikes showed disregard for the sanctity of Islam’s holiest sites and for the safety of civilians. Pakistan also repeated its “unwavering solidarity” with Riyadh and its commitment to the Makkah Alliance.
Defence pact shapes Pakistan’s response
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia signed a Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement in September 2025. Under the deal, an armed attack against either country is considered an attack against both. The accord is designed to strengthen joint deterrence against external threats and builds on a long-standing security partnership.
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The Foreign Office also reaffirmed Pakistan’s support for protecting the Two Holy Mosques. It praised Saudi air defence forces for their vigilance and efficiency in countering the attacks.
Two missiles intercepted near Taif and Yanbu
The statement followed reports from October 24 that the Saudi-led coalition fighting the Houthis had intercepted two ballistic missiles fired toward Taif and Yanbu. Saudi Arabia’s Civil Defence briefly issued alerts warning residents of possible danger in Taif, Yanbu, Makkah and Jeddah.
About ten minutes later, the agency said the threat had passed. Two days earlier, the Houthis had said they targeted the Saudi Defence Ministry in Riyadh, Aramco facilities in Yanbu and King Fahd International Airport in Dammam. Saudi authorities reported that two people were killed in attacks, but they had not confirmed the reported strikes in Riyadh and Yanbu.
Renewed fighting strains 2022 truce
The coalition said on October 22 that it had intercepted drones over Riyadh and Madina. The Houthis denied sending drones toward Madina after the coalition reported interceptions over the holy city and the kingdom’s eastern region.
The fresh violence has broken a United Nations-brokered truce agreed in 2022, which had largely halted cross-border attacks. That truce covered the coalition, which backs Yemen’s internationally recognised government, and the Houthis, who control the capital, Sanaa.
