Saudi Arabia Faces Fresh Houthi Attacks as Regional Powers Prepare for Iran Talks

Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi movement has claimed another attack on Saudi Arabia as senior Saudi, Turkish and Pakistani officials prepare for high-level talks with Iran in Tehran on Monday, amid rising fears of a renewed regional war.

Explosions shook Riyadh overnight, while residents received text alerts warning of a potential threat. The developments followed the Houthis’ claim on Sunday that they had launched another attack on the Saudi capital’s international airport.

Saudi Arabia, the world’s leading oil exporter, has been drawn deeper into the eight-month war since renewed fighting in its prolonged conflict with the Houthis began in July.

Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman is among the Saudi officials travelling to Tehran for discussions with representatives from Turkey and Pakistan. The three countries signed a defence alliance in Mecca in August.

Their visit comes as the United States, Iran and Israel have issued warnings suggesting that military hostilities could resume.

The diplomatic effort is unfolding against the backdrop of Israel’s closely contested election scheduled for Tuesday and next week’s US midterm elections, where President Donald Trump’s Republicans are seeking to maintain control of both houses of Congress.

According to Ali Bagheri Kani, deputy secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, Monday’s meeting will include Iranian security chief Mohsen Rezaei, Prince Khalid, Pakistan’s army chief General Asim Munir and Turkish intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin.

Saudi security analyst Hesham Alghannam warned that the meeting could represent a final opportunity to contain the crisis.

“This historic meeting in Tehran may be the last chance before escalation spirals out of control, an attempt to impose a path of de-escalation before it’s too late,” Alghannam wrote on X.

“The presence of military and security figures at this level together means that the remaining time is extremely limited.”

Missile strikes and diplomatic efforts

The latest security concerns emerged on Sunday as explosions were heard in Riyadh and residents received messages warning of a “hostile aerial threat”.

The Saudi-led coalition engaged in the conflict with the Houthis said it had carried out strikes against missile launchers and storage facilities in Yemen.

The Houthis, meanwhile, claimed they had again targeted King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh. The airport has been repeatedly attacked and has remained largely closed since a major strike this month killed 13 people and left more than 300 others injured.

Qatar and Pakistan have been involved in efforts to mediate between Iran and the United States. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei confirmed that a Qatari delegation had travelled to Tehran on Sunday.

“Our region is in the grip of serious tensions, and neighbouring countries are striving to convey a message and put forward initiatives,” Baqaei said on Monday.

Andreas Krieg, an analyst with London-based risk consultancy MENA analytica, said Prince Khalid’s participation in the Tehran talks carried considerable significance. He described the Saudi defence minister as the “strategic mastermind of Saudi Arabia”.

Prince Khalid, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s brother, has taken on an important role in the kingdom’s diplomacy, including missions involving sensitive regional issues.

“For him to go to Iran directly in this very sensitive time is a very, very strong signal that the kingdom is not just… sitting and waiting for things, events to unfold,” Krieg told AFP.

He said the visit demonstrated an effort by the countries in the Mecca alliance to communicate their willingness to cooperate on Saudi security.

“There’s a clear effort by the Mecca alliance to signal to Iran that they’re ready to work together to defend the kingdom and defend the kingdom’s borders,” he added.

“And so should Iran think to escalate, which they will likely do if Israel and the US strikes, and they will most likely strike Saudi Arabia, Iran will have to bear the consequences.”

Leaders warn of possible escalation

Statements from officials in Washington, Tehran and Israel have added to concerns about a possible return to fighting.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi acknowledged on Sunday that “there has been talk of a new war”, while insisting that Iran’s policies remained unchanged.

Trump said on Friday that Washington “may do another little Epic Fury”, referring to the US-Israeli offensive against Iran that began on February 28.

Netanyahu also warned on Sunday that Iran and its allies could attempt to interfere with Israel’s elections through attacks.

“We have intelligence signs that our enemies, Iran and its proxies, could challenge us with attacks in order to disrupt the elections,” the Israeli prime minister said.

“Don’t test us. You will suffer disproportionate blows,” Netanyahu added, as he continues to emphasise his security record during the election campaign.

His comments followed a report by Israel’s Channel 12, citing unnamed sources, that he had clashed with army chief Eyal Zamir over an unspecified new directive connected to the Iran war. Netanyahu rejected the report.

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