Pakistan Warns Iran to Rein in Yemen's Houthi Rebels After Saudi Attacks
Pakistan has delivered a warning to Iran through Saudi Arabia to rein in its Yemeni Houthi allies after they stepped up attacks on the kingdom.
The Houthis struck an airbase in Khamis Mushait and oil infrastructure in nearby cities on Tuesday, wounding 73 people, in one of the biggest attacks on Saudi Arabia since the start of the US-Israeli war on Iran in February.
Pakistan's warning carries significant weight because of its defense pact with Saudi Arabia and Turkey. The country's Defense Minister Khawaja Asif said that any aggression on Saudi territory could trigger a joint security arrangement involving Riyadh, Ankara, and Islamabad.
The Pakistani government has conveyed the message to Tehran over the past 24 hours, urging Iran to use its influence to halt Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia. However, Iranian officials have denied controlling the Houthis, saying they do not control their actions.