Agencies | Riyadh:
Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Pakistan are preparing to convene an urgent meeting of their military chiefs amid heightened regional tensions and a fresh escalation in Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia.
The three countries agreed to arrange the meeting under the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement, which provides for collective support if any of the signatories comes under attack. The move followed talks between their foreign ministers, who condemned recent attacks targeting Saudi Arabia and discussed measures to support the kingdom.
The Houthis have claimed missile and drone attacks on Saudi targets, while Saudi authorities said their air defences intercepted six ballistic missiles launched towards the kingdom. The latest escalation has also raised concerns over the security of vital energy and shipping
Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has reportedly presented Washington with a proposal under which the Strait of Hormuz could be reopened within seven days, subject to conditions including an end to hostilities and the lifting of the US blockade on Iranian ports.
According to reports, Tehran’s proposal envisages negotiations on broader issues after the strait is reopened. Iran has separately said it is prepared to reopen the strategically important waterway if Washington eases military pressure and lifts its blockade.
The Strait of Hormuz remains a critical route for global energy supplies, while the conflict
In southern Syria, Israeli forces have reportedly continued military activity around the Wadi al-Raqad area in Daraa province.
Recent reports said Israeli forces entered the Wadi al-Raqad area and carried out military operations in the wider Daraa countryside. Israeli forces have also shelled areas in western Daraa, including the Abidin and Al-Raqqad valleys, amid repeated incursions in southern Syria.
Meanwhile, forces aligned with Yemen’s internationally recognised government have reported fresh gains against the Houthis in the country’s southwest as fighting continues across several fronts.
Government forces have reported clashes in the strategic highlands of Taiz and Lahj, including around the Kahboub Mountains. They have also claimed control of strategic positions overlooking routes towards the Red Sea coast and the Bab el-Mandeb strait.
The renewed fighting has coincided with intensified Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia and growing international concern over the security of key maritime routes.
The developments underscore the widening regional security crisis, with military confrontations in Yemen and southern Syria unfolding alongside diplomatic efforts over the conflict involving Iran and the United States.
