Iran-backed Houthis hit Saudi Aramco refinery after Erdogan signs defense pact with Riyadh, Pakistan
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Iran-backed Houthi forces struck a Saudi Aramco oil refinery in Jizan province on Sunday, causing damage, hours after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan signed a tripartite defense pact with Saudi Arabia and Pakistan in Mecca. The attack on one of the world’s largest oil firms occurred even as Ankara and its new allies pledged collective deterrence under the agreement signed Friday. The strike drew attention to the timing, given Iran’s criticism of the pact.
The Strike
Houthi forces launched an attack on a Saudi Aramco refinery in Jizan province on Sunday morning, causing unspecified damage, according to initial reports. The Iran-backed group controls large parts of Yemen and has repeatedly targeted Saudi energy infrastructure. Sunday’s strike came just two days after the leadership of Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan gathered in Mecca to formalize their defense pact. The timing, described by some observers as symbolic, underscored the fragility of Gulf security dynamics.
The Defense Pact
President Erdogan signed the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Pakistani Prime Minister on Friday, establishing a framework where an attack on one member is considered an attack on all. The pact commits the three nations to accelerate military trade, develop joint defense industry projects, and cooperate on counter-terrorism. Erdogan stated the agreement affirms the self-defense right under Article 51 of the UN Charter and is open to other regional countries committed to peace and stability.
Regional Reactions
The pact drew immediate criticism from Iran, which viewed it as a counterweight to its influence in the region. Greece and Israel also expressed unease, according to reports. The Houthi attack on Sunday, widely seen as backed by Tehran, exacerbated tensions. The confluence of the new alliance and the strike highlights the competing security structures in the Middle East.
What's Next
Saudi Arabia has not yet announced any retaliatory measures, but the coalition has previously warned of proportional responses to Houthi attacks. It remains unclear whether the incident will fast-track military cooperation under the new pact or trigger further escalation in the Gulf.
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Iran-backed Houthis hit Saudi Aramco refinery after Erdogan signs defense pact with Riyadh, Pakistan
