Pakistan sent four planeloads of weapons to Saudi-backed government in Yemen: Report

Submitted by MEE staff on Fri, 10/02/2026 - 18:47 Pakistani military advisors are deployed with Saudi counterparts to support the Yemeni government

This picture taken during a tour for foreign media organised by the Saudi-backed Yemeni government shows Yemeni forces inside a military camp in the southern Hadramawt province, on 20 January 2026 (Fadel Senna/AFP) Off

Pakistan sent four cargo planes of armaments to the Saudi-backed, internationally recognised government of Yemen in September as the kingdom mobilises to try to push back a sweeping Houthi offensive.

The Pakistani weapons shipments to the port city of Aden, reported by Reuters on Friday, suggest that Islamabad is increasing its involvement in the war.

Pakistan delivered air defence systems, light artillery, drones and anti-drone systems to Aden, Reuters reported, citing a Pakistani government official. In addition, Pakistani military advisers are also on the ground with their Saudi counterparts supporting Yemeni troops.

Multiple western and Arab officials have told Middle East Eye that Saudi Arabia is preparing for a high-intensity campaign to counter a Houthi offensive that has put the group in control of the entirety of Yemen’s Red Sea coastline.

Intense fighting has been reported in recent days around the city of Taiz. On Thursday, the Houthis destroyed a bridge linking government-held areas around Taiz to Aden.

If the Houthis are able to take Taiz from the Yemeni government, they would isolate the port city of Aden from its territory in the north and disrupt the government’s supply lines.

Saudi Arabia has been ramping up air strikes against the Houthis. The group said on Thursday that the kingdom launched 94 strikes in the last 24 hours. Saudi Arabia said on Thursday that its military had conducted a "high-value targeting operation" in the city of Sanaa and struck 11 targets in Saada. The kingdom said 27 air strikes targeted an "integrated military system" in Taiz.

The Houthis have also targeted civilian infrastructure in Saudi Arabia, including Riyadh airport.

Houthi attacks expose gaps in Pakistan's defence pact with Saudi Arabia Read More »

The kingdom on Thursday accused the Houthis of attacking an electricity distribution station in the holy city of Medina. The Saudi-led coalition in Yemen said a drone struck the Taibah electricity distribution station, which provides power to the Prophet's Mosque. The Houthis denied involvement.

Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have decades-old military ties. But the extent of Pakistan and Turkey’s support for Saudi Arabia against the Houthis is being watched as an early test for the Mecca Pact, the joint defence agreement the three countries signed in August.

Pakistan and Turkey sat on the sidelines as the Houthis swept down the Red Sea last month and imposed a blockade against Saudi shipping in the Red Sea. Experts say both countries have to balance their ties to Riyadh with their own threat perception. Pakistan neighbours Iran, which has supported the Houthis with arms, intelligence and advisors.

Saudi Arabia’s most important security partner remains the US, but the Trump administration has not taken a public role in the fight against the Houthis, although, like Pakistan, it has sent military advisors and weapons systems.

Saudi Arabia is searching for allies to help counter the Houthis and this week made a public gesture of mending fences with the UAE, its Gulf neighbour it clashed with in Yemen over the latter’s support for southern secessionist movements.

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman hosted UAE Vice President Mansour bin Zayed in Riyadh on Tuesday.

Yemen War News Post Date Override 0 Update Date Mon, 05/04/2020 - 21:19 Update Date Override 0