SANAA, Sept. 21 (Xinhua) -- Yemen's Houthi leader Abdul-Malik al-Houthi warned Türkiye and Pakistan against involvement in the group's escalating confrontation with Saudi Arabia.
In a televised speech broadcast by the Houthi-run al-Masirah TV channel, al-Houthi accused Saudi Arabia of seeking military support from Türkiye and Pakistan as the conflict intensifies both inside Yemen and across the Saudi-Yemeni border.
He urged the two countries not to become "entangled" in the conflict in pursuit of political or economic interests with Riyadh.
Al-Houthi also alleged that Saudi Arabia was seeking to bring fighters from Syria into the conflict, without providing evidence to support the claim.
On the possibility of de-escalation, the Houthi leader said his group was not demanding "impossible conditions," reiterating its call for an end to Saudi military operations and what the Houthis describe as a blockade.
He called on his supporters to maintain mobilization and continue strengthening the group's military and security capabilities amid the escalating confrontation.
The warning comes as the Houthi-Saudi confrontation spills increasingly across the border, with Saudi airstrikes in Yemen met by Houthi missile and drone attacks deep inside the kingdom. Al-Houthi said Monday that Saudi Arabia had launched 760 airstrikes since the latest escalation began.
There was no immediate response from Saudi Arabia, Türkiye or Pakistan to al-Houthi's remarks.
The three countries signed the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement on Aug. 7 in the Saudi city of Mecca, stipulating that an attack on any signatory will be considered an attack on all. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said last Saturday that Türkiye would keep its promise under the agreement and could provide technical assistance to Saudi Arabia. ■
