PM Shehbaz Condemns Houthi Attacks on Saudi Arabia, Reaffirms Pakistan’s Support
ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN — WEB DESK: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday strongly condemned Houthi attacks targeting civilian and energy facilities in Saudi Arabia, reaffirming Pakistan’s unwavering support for the Kingdom’s sovereignty, security and territorial integrity.
In a statement posted on X, the prime minister condemned what he described as a “cowardly attack” that left numerous people injured and threatened regional peace and security.
Shehbaz said Pakistan stood firmly with King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and the people of Saudi Arabia following the attacks.
He also prayed for the speedy recovery of those wounded.
Pakistan Reaffirms Support for Saudi Sovereignty
The prime minister stressed that attacks targeting civilian lives and critical infrastructure posed dangers extending beyond Saudi Arabia itself.
“Such dastardly attacks threaten innocent lives as well as regional peace and security,” Shehbaz said, according to the official APP report.
Pakistan, he added, remained steadfast in its support for Saudi Arabia’s sovereignty, security and territorial integrity.
The statement comes amid heightened regional tensions and represents Islamabad’s latest expression of political and diplomatic solidarity with Riyadh.
Houthi Attacks Wound 73 in Saudi Arabia
The prime minister’s statement followed a major wave of Houthi attacks across southern Saudi Arabia earlier Tuesday.
Saudi authorities said 73 people were wounded, including women and children, after attacks struck areas including Abha, Khamis Mushait, Najran and Jazan.
Civilian and economic facilities were among the targets, according to the Saudi-led coalition.
Saudi Arabia’s Energy Ministry separately said attacks affected energy facilities and utilities, sparking fires and temporarily disrupting operations at some locations.
The developments have intensified concerns that renewed hostilities involving Yemen could further destabilise the Gulf and threaten regional energy infrastructure.
Saudi Coalition Warns of Response
The Saudi-led coalition condemned the attacks and warned that action would be taken in response.
Meanwhile, fighting between Houthi forces and government-aligned forces in Yemen has also intensified in Al-Bayda and Al-Jawf provinces, according to regional reporting cited by Express Urdu.
The escalation comes after a period in which cross-border hostilities between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis had been substantially reduced.
Renewed missile and drone attacks are therefore raising concerns that the Yemen conflict could once again spill more extensively across Saudi borders.
Pakistan-Saudi Security Ties in Focus
The latest attacks are particularly significant for Islamabad because Pakistan and Saudi Arabia maintain close diplomatic, economic and defence relations.
Those security ties were further strengthened last month when Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye signed a joint defence agreement in Makkah amid growing regional instability.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan subsequently described the agreement as technically comparable to NATO’s Article 5 mutual-defence principle, while also stressing that the pact was not directed against Iran.
The latest Houthi attacks therefore place renewed attention on the three countries’ security cooperation.
However, Shehbaz’s statement on Tuesday focused on condemnation, solidarity and support for Saudi sovereignty. It did not announce any new Pakistani military deployment or direct military action in response to the strikes.
Pakistan Has Condemned Earlier Houthi Attacks
Tuesday’s statement is consistent with Islamabad’s response to previous Houthi attacks against the Kingdom.
Shehbaz had also condemned attacks on Saudi Arabia last month and reaffirmed Pakistan’s support for the Kingdom’s security.
The latest statement goes further in specifically highlighting attacks against civilian and energy facilities, which carry broader implications for regional security.
Saudi Arabia is one of the world’s largest oil exporters, making any sustained threat to its energy infrastructure potentially significant for international energy markets.
Egypt Also Backs Saudi Arabia
Pakistan is among several countries to express support for Riyadh following Tuesday’s escalation.
Egypt also condemned the Houthi missile and drone attacks and declared its solidarity with Saudi Arabia, describing threats to the Kingdom’s security as a matter affecting wider Arab national security.
The diplomatic reaction reflects broader concern that renewed Saudi-Houthi confrontation could add another front to an already volatile Middle Eastern security environment.
Islamabad Calls for Regional Stability
For Pakistan, the escalation comes at a sensitive time.
Islamabad maintains exceptionally close relations with Saudi Arabia while also sharing a long border with Iran and advocating diplomatic efforts to prevent the wider Middle East conflict from expanding.
Shehbaz’s response therefore combines firm support for Saudi Arabia with concern about the consequences of continued regional escalation.
The prime minister’s central message was that Pakistan stands with Saudi Arabia following the attacks and regards threats to civilians and critical infrastructure as threats to wider regional stability.
With Saudi authorities assessing damage and warning of a response, attention will now turn to whether further Houthi attacks occur and whether the latest escalation leads to additional security coordination among Saudi Arabia and its regional partners.
