Turkey, Pakistan, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia have condemned recent attacks by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi militants on Riyadh’s international airport. The four nations termed the assaults a “dangerous escalation that cannot be justified or accepted under any pretext.”
Saudi authorities reported that one person was killed and nearly a dozen were injured in another attack on the airport on Sunday. This incident followed a previous strike attributed to the Houthis, which resulted in 13 fatalities and injured over 300 individuals.
The group of regional powers, collectively known as the R4, expressed solidarity with Saudi Arabia. They affirmed support for all “legitimate measures and steps” the kingdom takes to counteract the attacks, deter future threats, and prevent similar incidents from occurring. In a joint statement, they held the Houthi militia wholly responsible for the consequences of these assaults, demanding an immediate and unconditional halt to their operations.
Turkey and Pakistan, both signatories to a joint defense pact with Saudi Arabia established in August, have indicated their commitment to the agreement, which states that an attack on one party is considered an attack on all. Last week, the three nations noted their intention to implement collective defense measures and ensure the swift deployment of military forces and capabilities in Saudi Arabia in light of the Houthi attacks.
On Thursday, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan stated that Turkey is exploring ways to assist Saudi Arabia but ruled out the deployment of Turkish troops or participation in offensive operations. Reports from earlier indicated that Turkey would be providing mainly defensive and technical support to Riyadh.
Up to this point, Turkish assistance has been primarily bilateral, as the Turkish parliament has yet to ratify the joint defense pact officially. This agreement is expected to be brought before the parliament in the coming days.
Turkey, holding NATO’s second-largest army and possessing a strong defense industry, has supplied Saudi Arabia with various defense equipment. The country has also agreed to participate in a Saudi-led coalition aimed at ensuring navigational safety in the Red Sea.
