Saudi Arabia may support a major Yemeni offensive against the Houthis while avoiding direct involvement due to the risks of another war.

The Mecca Mutual Defense Agreement marks a significant shift toward regional collective deterrence, as Saudi Arabia, Turkiye, and Pakistan seek to strengthen security cooperation amid rising tensions and a changing Middle Eastern power balance.

The Damietta Port drone attack sparked competing theories over responsibility, with accusations involving Iran, “Israel”, and other actors, while raising concerns about Egypt’s energy security, regional escalation, and military preparedness.

The Yemen crisis has become a regional confrontation, with the Houthis leveraging Yemen’s strategic position while Saudi Arabia and international actors seek to prevent wider escalation.

Riyadh announced it had launched strikes on targets within Iraqi territory in retaliation for drone attacks on its oil facilities, claiming the drones were launched from Iraq and carried out by Iranian-backed militias.