Saudi Arabia is facing a sharp escalation in its conflict with Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthis, even as Riyadh has defence agreements with the United States, Pakistan and Türkiye. The question now is why these defence partnerships have not resulted in direct military intervention against the Houthis.The latest escalation began with major Houthi advances along Yemen’s Red Sea coast. On September 10, 2026, Houthi forces captured Mokha, a strategic Red Sea port, and continued advancing along the western coast. The fighting has increased pressure on Saudi Arabia and raised concerns about energy supplies and shipping through the Bab el-Mandeb.What Defence Pacts Does Saudi Arabia Have?"Saudi Arabia’s defence relationship with the US was strengthened through the US-Saudi Strategic Defense Agreement, signed on November 18, 2025. The White House said the agreement was intended to strengthen deterrence and deepen the long-standing defence partnership between Washington and Riyadh."Saudi Arabia also has a Saudi Pakistan defence agreement. In August 2026, Riyadh, Pakistan and Türkiye signed the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement. The pact says an armed attack against one of the three countries will be regarded as an attack against all and calls for stronger defence cooperation.Why Are Pakistan and Türkiye Not Fighting the Houthis?The Saudi Pakistan defence agreement and Saudi Turkey defence ties do not automatically mean that troops must immediately enter every conflict involving Saudi Arabia.Pakistan has publicly maintained its commitment to the Makkah pact, but on September 10 its Foreign Ministry said that no military response had been discussed under the agreement following Houthi attacks. Islamabad also urged Iran to restrain the Houthis.The three countries have also stressed de-escalation and peaceful resolution of regional crises. Their strategic committee met in Istanbul on August 31 and reaffirmed cooperation while supporting restraint. Why Is the US Not Directly Fighting?The Saudi US defence pact strengthens military cooperation but does not mean Washington automatically joins every Saudi military operation.The current regional situation also involves the wider US-Iran confrontation, Red Sea security and the risk of opening another military front. US involvement therefore remains focused on broader regional security rather than direct participation in Saudi Arabia’s ground conflict with the Houthis.Why Is Saudi Arabia Fighting Carefully?The answer to why Saudi Arabia is not fighting Houthis with a large ground campaign is also linked to Riyadh’s experience since 2015. Saudi Arabia previously led a coalition intervention in Yemen, but the conflict became prolonged and did not decisively defeat the Houthis.Today, Riyadh faces another strategic problem: protecting its territory and energy infrastructure while avoiding a wider regional war. Recent Houthi attacks have included drone threats, while Saudi air defences have intercepted attacks, including a reported drone south of Mecca. Therefore, the Saudi Arabia Defence Pacts Houthis issue is less about whether Riyadh has allies and more about how those agreements are interpreted, activated and balanced against each country’s military, diplomatic and regional interests.Also Read : Pakistan-Saudi Ties Under Strain After Islamabad Backtracks on Houthi Support
