Turkey, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia forge regional defense alliance
Three regional powers establish formal defense alliance amid escalating Middle East military tensions.
Event / Conflict
Escalating conflict in Yemen involving Saudi Arabia, Houthi forces, and regional actors with military strikes, displacement, and casualties
2026-09-16 to 2026-10-30 · UTC publication dates
Coverage begins 16 Sept, 07:14 UTC
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The escalation of hostilities between Houthi forces and the internationally recognized government in July 2026 resulted in mass displacement. The International Organization for Migration reported that 201,217 people have been forced to leave their homes, creating a humanitarian crisis in Yemen, the Arab peninsula's poorest country.
A Houthi strike hit the city of Taez in western Yemen, wounding five civilians. Taez is held by government forces but partially surrounded by Houthi positions. A resident reported the projectile landed in a crowded street area.
Houthi forces issued a warning to international airlines stating that Saudi Arabian airspace is not safe for civilian aviation. Flight tracking showed regular disruptions to traffic at Riyadh airport following these warnings.
Three people were killed in Houthi missile and drone attacks on Saudi airports: one Egyptian national, one Algerian national, and one Sudanese national. Additionally, 36 other people were wounded, some with serious injuries, according to the Saudi General Authority of Civil Aviation.
In September 2026, Houthi forces captured the entire Yemeni coastline along the Red Sea, strengthening their control over the strategically important Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which connects Asia to Europe via the Suez Canal.
Military sources from both sides reported at least 62 deaths in western Yemen on Wednesday, bringing the total number of combatants killed since Monday to more than 330. The escalating violence reflects intensified ground operations between government forces and Houthis.
Saudi Arabia announced retaliatory military operations, destroying 82 Houthi military targets. The Saudi-led coalition also reported destroying a ballistic missile launcher used in the airport attack. Saudi officials stated the attacks would not go unanswered.
Houthi forces reported that they have documented 1,642 Saudi airstrikes and missile attacks over the previous three months. Saudi warplanes have conducted bombing campaigns targeting Houthi-held regions, including the capital Sanaa.
Houthi forces launched attacks using missiles and drones against Riyadh international airport and Abha airport in southwestern Saudi Arabia. The attacks caused material damage to airport infrastructure and disrupted regular flight operations.
Turkey, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia agreed to immediately implement a defense agreement signed in August at Mecca. The three countries announced their intention to provide military forces and resources agreed upon and deploy them rapidly in Saudi Arabia to counter Houthi threats.
Houthi forces attacked a military base in the Aden airport zone in southern Yemen. A missile landed near the runway minutes before a Yemeni airline flight arriving from Cairo was scheduled to land, forcing the aircraft to divert to a Saudi airport.
The Houthis made progress toward capturing Taiz, Yemen's third-largest city, expelling government forces from the district where President Rashad al-Alimi's home is located. Government forces confirmed the Houthi advance and that Taiz is effectively surrounded. The city has been under Houthi siege since the Yemeni civil war began.
The Bab al-Mandeb Strait is a vital international waterway through which approximately 12 percent of the world's goods are shipped en route between Europe and Asia. It connects the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean, making it a critical chokepoint for global maritime commerce.
The Iran-backed Houthi insurgency captured the historic port city of Mokha on September 10 after a surprise offensive. This seizure threatened control of the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, located approximately 50 miles south of Mokha. The capture was part of a broader Houthi advance that threatened key maritime chokepoints.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio welcomed reports of the Yemeni government forces offensive to retake territory from the Houthis, stating the forces would attempt to recapture areas they had been ousted from.
Yemeni President Rashad al-Alimi announced a strategic offensive using advanced capabilities to recapture Sanaa, the capital seized by the Houthis in 2014. Alimi said the decision followed exhausted attempts at de-escalation and committed forces to fighting until the country is liberated from the Houthis, which he termed a terrorist militia.
Iran continues to maintain threats to shipping in the Strait of Hormuz as part of a strategic response to U.S. and Israeli forces attacks that began on February 28. This parallel threat complements the Houthi activities affecting the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandeb Strait.
The Saudi-led regional military coalition destroyed 324 high-value Houthi targets over the weekend through airpower, supporting the ground offensive near the Bab al-Mandeb Strait. The airstrikes were coordinated with the government's ground advance to weaken Houthi defensive positions.
Yemeni government forces backed by Saudi Arabian air support launched a counteroffensive on Sunday, advancing rapidly and seizing key positions in Dhubab near the Bab al-Mandeb Strait. The offensive, named Operation Dawn of Yemen, involved government militias including the Giants Forces and National Shield. Government forces secured the Dhubab airstrip and cut off Houthi forces in the area, though fighting continued.
The Houthis conducted combined missile and drone attacks on Saudi Arabian oil facilities, including strikes on an Aramco facility in Riyadh and the Khurais oilfield in eastern Saudi Arabia. Eyewitnesses reported flames and smoke visible from the Aramco facility in Riyadh. The Houthis claimed to have launched multiple attacks on Saudi oil infrastructure.
Three regional powers establish formal defense alliance amid escalating Middle East military tensions.
Yemen conflict displaces 200,000 as military operations intensify across aerial, ground, and infrastructure domains.
Houthis consolidate Red Sea coastal control amid intense military operations and 330+ combat deaths.
Houthis attacked Saudi airports killing three; Saudi Arabia conducted retaliatory strikes on 82 targets.
Two critical global shipping straits face simultaneous military pressure, threatening vital energy transit routes.
Bangladeshi Aramco worker killed in Houthi attack on Saudi oil facility.
Yemen government forces mount counteroffensive against Houthis as coalition airstrikes intensify.
Houthi attacks trigger Riyadh school closures, extending conflict impact to civilian infrastructure and daily life.
Oil surges past $100/barrel and diesel hits records as Red Sea conflict damages Saudi energy infrastructure.
US warns of rapid escalation as Iran opens diplomatic channels amid military surge.
Iranian military visits Houthi-controlled Red Sea as Houthis consolidate full coastal control.
Houthis attack Riyadh with missiles and drones; Aramco fuel tank damaged near airport.