Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 11:04am on 15 Sep 2026,Tuesday International
As Houthi rebels tighten their grip on the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and strike Saudi soil, Riyadh has reportedly sought intelligence assistance from Israel, approached indirectly through US CENTCOM, to help secure the vital waterway. The request comes even as Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkiye remain bound by the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement signed in August. However, Pakistan's Foreign Office has clarified the pact is defensive in nature, ruling out any immediate military response to the Houthi attacks. The Houthis have already seized Mocha port and Perim Island, threatening a key global shipping route and Saudi oil exports. (PC: India Today)
