Al Jazeera
· collected 2026-09-25 · by Al Jazeera Staff; AP; DPA; Reuters
Saudi Arabia’s allies are bolstering support for the country amid increased attacks by Houthi rebels. France has confirmed it will send troops, radars, and defense systems to protect the oil terminal at Yanbu on Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea coast. Meanwhile, Saudi officials are meeting with Pakistan and Turkey to discuss mutual defense strategies under their joint agreement. The Houthis have escalated missile and drone attacks against Saudi targets, including a reported strike on Aramco facilities in Yanbu, which hosts significant oil storage and refining capabilities.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-09-25,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Saudi Arabia reports fresh Houthi attacks after issuing warnings for several regions including Mecca. France pledges military support to protect Yanbu, the kingdom's primary crude export terminal on the Red Sea. President Emmanuel Macron announces sending soldiers and radar systems to defend Yanbu following missile strikes by Iran-backed Houthis targeting sensitive targets in Riyadh and Aramco facilities in Yanbu. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan meet to discuss mutual defense options under their pact signed in August.
Oil prices have jumped following these attacks, with Brent crude futures rising more than 3% due to fears of additional disruptions to energy supplies amid the ongoing US-Israel war on Iran. The renewed hostilities shattered a years-long truce in Yemen, leading to significant casualties and cementing Iran's allies' hold over vital Red Sea coastlines crucial for Saudi oil exports. France’s military support aims to protect Yanbu without involving itself directly in the conflict. Major powers are rallying behind Saudi Arabia as Houthi attacks escalate. However, doubts persist about concrete actions by Turkey and Pakistan under their mutual defense pact. The UN faces a crisis amid unilateral actions by major powers. Yemen government forces claim control of Mount Qarfan in Taiz amidst ongoing hostilities. Despite diplomatic efforts, a US-Iran deal remains elusive. UK’s support for Saudi Arabia in its war with Iran-backed Houthis is under scrutiny. Surging fuel prices in France are attributed to international conflicts including the US war on Iran and its impact on oil markets.
Written for “Saudi Arabia Yemen Conflict Allies Su…” on 2026-10-05,
grounded in this article and the 15 other(s) covering the same event.
Saudi Arabia’s allies are rallying to support the country as the Houthi rebels step up attacks.
asserted
rebels → rally → attacks
France confirmed on Friday that it is sending troops to guard the major oil terminal at Yanbu.
asserted
it → confirm → Yanbu
Meanwhile, Saudi officials are meeting with peers from Pakistan and Turkiye to discuss options under their mutual defence pact.
asserted
officials → meet → pact
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uncertain
UK → claim → Houthis
major powers act unilaterally, experts say UN faces crisis in New York
French President Emmanuel Macron told broadcasters TF1 and France 2 that Paris is to send “soldiers, radars, and defence systems” to the Red Sea port of Yanbu.
“Not to involve ourselves in any conflict, but to protect the site,” he said.
asserted
he → act → site
Yanbu hosts major oil storage and refining facilities and is connected by the East-West Pipeline, which can carry up to seven million barrels a day.
asserted
which → host → barrels
The Houthis, also known as Ansar Allah (supporters of God), have repeatedly fired missiles and drones into Saudi Arabia, disrupting oil flows from the world’s largest energy exporter.
asserted
Houthis → know → exporter
On Thursday, the rebel group said it had struck the facilities of state oil firm Aramco in Yanbu, and a “sensitive target” in Riyadh.
asserted
it → say → Riyadh
Saudi forces said they had intercepted six ballistic missiles.
asserted
they → say → missiles
Authorities have not confirmed any damage.
asserted
Authorities → confirm → damage
The foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkiye met on Thursday to arrange an “urgent meeting” of their military chiefs of staff under the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement, which treats an attack on one member as an attack on all, the Saudi foreign ministry said in a statement.
asserted
ministry → meet → statement
They also condemned Houthi attacks that they claimed targeted Mecca and other civilian sites.
asserted
they → condemn → Mecca
However, doubt persists over what action Turkiye and Pakistan might take under the pact, which is yet to be officially triggered.
uncertain
which → persist → pact
Both of the Saudi allies are heavily involved as mediators seeking to bring an end to the conflicts across the Middle East.
asserted
Both → involve → East
Saudi Arabia’s grand mufti called on soldiers to be ready to lay down their lives to fight the Houthis, according to the Saudi state news agency.
uncertain
mufti → call → agency
The Iran-aligned Houthis have been battling the Saudi-backed government of Yemen for more than a decade.
asserted
Houthis → align → decade
That conflict has been rekindled amid Israel’s wars against the Iran-aligned Hamas group in Gaza and the Hezbollah group in Lebanon, and the United States war on Iran.
asserted
conflict → rekindle → Iran
At the United Nations General Assembly in New York, Yemen’s Vice President Abdullah Abdulkader al-Alimi-Bawzer warned that the Houthis were using shipping security “as a tool for blackmail”.
asserted
Houthis → warn → blackmail
“It is taking hostage the entire global economy,” he said.
asserted
he → take → economy
The US has not renewed military involvement, but Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud said the kingdom was “continuing to work with our partners in the US”.
asserted
kingdom → renew → US
The Houthi targeting of Yanbu adds to the pressure on Saudi Arabia’s oil exports.
asserted
targeting → add → exports
Earlier this month, the Houthis seized the Yemeni port of Mocha and several Red Sea islands, giving them significant control over the Bab al-Mandeb strait, which usually carries about 12 percent of global oil trade.
asserted
which → seize → trade
Strikes have also disrupted the operation of the East-West Pipeline linking Yanbu to export routes.
asserted
Strikes → disrupt → routes
Riyadh had been using it to export crude bypassing the Strait of Hormuz, which is restricted amid the Iran-US war.
asserted
which → use → war
However, the Houthis have now forced the Saudis to switch some exports back to Hormuz.
asserted
Houthis → force → Hormuz
Brent crude rose more than 3 percent on Thursday, briefly topping $108 a barrel, before easing to $105.77 on Friday morning.
asserted
crude → rise → morning
June Goh, a senior oil market analyst at Sparta Commodities in Singapore, said oil would likely stay above $100 a barrel as long as the war on Iran continued.
asserted
war → say → Iran
“With no clear resolution in sight, the gap in oil inventories globally is getting wider,” Goh told Al Jazeera.
asserted
Goh → get → Jazeera
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