Security analyst Yair Goldblatt questioned whether the regional defense agreement covers strikes on Saudi assets and personnel in Yemen, citing what he described as a Houthi attack on the city of Marib earlier Friday. The analyst's comments follow The Zioneer's earlier report of a Houthi offensive in Marib governorate.
Yair Goldblatt, a security analyst covering the Middle East, posted on Friday afternoon querying whether the defense agreement between Saudi Arabia and its allies — likely referring to the 'Mecca Agreement' — includes provisions for striking Saudi-linked targets in Yemen. He noted that the Houthis had fired at the city of Marib 'just this morning,' targeting pro-Saudi positions.
The question follows a series of escalations in Yemen. Earlier Friday, The Zioneer reported that the Houthi movement launched an attack on Saudi-backed forces in the Marib governorate, according to the Abu Ali Express news outlet. That report noted that the Houthis hold the upper hand in the fighting and that the attack coincides with preparations for a triple defense alliance among Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan.
Goldblatt's query reflects broader uncertainty about the defensive commitments of the emerging alliance, particularly in the context of the Houthi-Iranian axis's ability to strike Saudi interests from within Yemen. The analyst's claims have not been independently verified.
- DevelopingHouthis launch attack on Saudi-backed forces in Yemen's Marib governorate
- DevelopingAdditional footage of Houthi missile strikes on pro-Saudi militias in Yemen released by analyst
- DevelopingSaudi Arabia strikes Houthi weapons sites in several Yemeni provinces, Yemeni TV reports
- DevelopingYemeni air force strikes Houthi missile and drone launch sites in Marib and Al-Jawf, Reuters reports
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