Turkey pledges military support to Saudi Arabia amid rising Houthi attacks

Ankara signaled its willingness to provide military assistance to Riyadh after the Turkish foreign minister, Hakan Fidan, said Turkey stands ready to support Saudi Arabia amid a surge in Houthi attacks targeting the kingdom and its interests in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. Fidan made the remarks during a press briefing on Monday, noting that the escalation of missile and drone strikes by Yemen’s Houthi movement has heightened security concerns for Saudi infrastructure and commercial shipping routes.

The minister’s statement came as Saudi officials have repeatedly called for broader regional cooperation to counter the Houthi offensive, which has intensified since early 2024 and has disrupted maritime traffic and prompted heightened naval deployments by coalition forces. Turkey, a long‑standing partner of Saudi Arabia in economic and diplomatic spheres, has not previously deployed troops in the conflict but has offered logistical, intelligence and training support, underscoring its strategic interest in stabilising the maritime corridor. The readiness to assist reflects Ankara’s broader aim to deepen security ties with Gulf states while addressing the growing threat posed by the Houthi campaign.