Fighting between Yemen’s government forces and Iran-aligned Houthi rebels has intensified, raising fears that the conflict could spill over into neighboring Saudi Arabia.

Pakistan has now warned that a recently signed defense agreement involving Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan could be activated if Saudi Arabia comes under attack.

Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Asif told Pakistani news channel Geo News on Tuesday night that the agreement would come into effect if there was “unprovoked aggression” or if the ongoing conflict in Yemen spread into Saudi territory.

“If there is unprovoked aggression, or if what is happening in Yemen spills over into Saudi Arabia, then certainly the Mecca Pact will be activated,” Asif said.

He added that there should be “no doubt” about Pakistan’s commitment to the agreement, saying Islamabad would fulfill its obligations if necessary.

The warning comes as fighting has intensified across several parts of Yemen. Saudi Arabia says Iran-backed Houthi forces have continued targeting its infrastructure and other facilities.

Early Thursday, Saudi authorities issued warnings over possible attacks in several provinces. The alerts came after the Houthis claimed that Saudi forces had carried out 54 airstrikes across Yemen within 12 hours and threatened retaliation.

The renewed escalation comes amid heightened tensions across the Middle East linked to the conflict between the United States, Israel and Iran.

The World Health Organization has reported that more than 1,000 people have been killed or injured in fighting in Yemen since August 24, while several thousand others have been displaced.

Yemen’s state news agency Saba reported on Wednesday that at least three children were killed and six others wounded in Houthi shelling in the central Marib province. The incident was reportedly the second attack of its kind within 48 hours.

The Houthis also said the death toll from an attack on a prison in northern Yemen’s Al-Jawf province had risen to at least 32 people. Seven others were reportedly wounded in Tuesday’s attack.

Yemen’s Conflict Escalates

Yemen has been embroiled in conflict since the Houthis seized control of the capital, Sanaa, in 2014. A Saudi-led military coalition intervened the following year, triggering years of devastating warfare.

A UN-brokered truce in 2022 brought a significant reduction in major fighting. However, hostilities have intensified again following an attack on Sanaa airport in July.

Last week, the Houthis launched major operations in Hodeidah and Taiz provinces, reportedly attempting to advance toward the Bab al-Mandeb Strait. Government forces responded with counterattacks and expanded operations in Al-Jawf and other areas.

The escalation has also raised concerns in Saudi Arabia.

Major General Turki Al-Malki, spokesperson for the Saudi-led coalition, said on Wednesday that the Houthis had continued attacks against Saudi infrastructure and other facilities.

According to Al-Malki, ballistic missiles and drones were used in attacks targeting areas including Khamis Mushait, Abha and Jazan.

He warned that the coalition would respond to what he described as the Houthis’ “heinous attacks.”

Saudi Arabia’s Civil Defense authorities issued several warnings in Khamis Mushait and Abha on Thursday. No casualties were reported in connection with the alerts.

Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree claimed on Wednesday that Saudi forces had carried out 54 airstrikes in six Yemeni provinces within 12 hours.

He said the strikes targeted Al-Jawf, Marib, Taiz, Hodeidah, Saada and Al-Bayda.

Saree warned that the Houthis would retaliate against the airstrikes and what he described as continued Saudi aggression.

On Tuesday, he also claimed that Saudi forces had conducted 121 airstrikes in Houthi-controlled areas over several days.

The Houthis, meanwhile, claimed to have attacked facilities belonging to Saudi oil giant Aramco in Abha, Najran and Jazan, as well as Khamis Mushait airbase.

Saudi officials said Houthi attacks had injured at least 73 people.

Pakistan Issues ‘Mecca Pact’ Warning

Yemen’s government forces say they have advanced in Al-Jawf for a third consecutive day and disrupted Houthi supply routes in the area. Government forces also claimed to have attacked Houthi positions in Taiz.

The claims could not be independently verified.

Against this backdrop, Pakistan has warned that the “Mecca Joint Defense Pact” signed last month by Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan could be activated if Saudi Arabia is attacked.

Under the agreement, the three countries agreed to strengthen collective deterrence against aggression.

The pact has been compared to NATO’s principle of collective defense, under which an attack against one member can be treated as an attack against the alliance as a whole. However, the exact mechanism for implementing the new agreement has yet to be clearly defined.

The agreement was signed amid growing regional tensions, including concerns over Israel’s expanding military capabilities and Iran’s influence across the Middle East.

According to the 2026 Global Firepower Index, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan have a combined active military personnel strength of roughly 1.4 million. Together, they possess approximately 3,400 military aircraft, 6,000 tanks and more than 340 naval vessels.

Iran Rejects Yemen Intervention Claims

Iran has rejected accusations that it is interfering in Yemen’s internal affairs.

The Iranian Foreign Ministry dismissed allegations of Iranian interference after Arab League foreign ministers condemned what they described as violations of Yemen’s sovereignty.

“We completely reject the allegations of Iranian interference in Yemen,” the ministry said.

Iran also reiterated its support for Yemen’s unity and territorial integrity, saying it has consistently backed dialogue led by Yemenis on the basis of a UN-supported roadmap.