Houthi missiles hit Riyadh and Abha airports; Islamabad calls a New York Times report of Pakistani air strikes on the Houthis “fake and fabricated”
Saudi civil aviation authorities reported three dead and dozens injured in Houthi attacks on the Riyadh and Abha airports (Arab News Pakistan, AP via KSAT). The NYT reported on 7 October that Pakistan Air Force jets were being used against the Houthis, citing an unnamed senior Pakistani military official; the Information Ministry rejected it as fake and fabricated and urged media not to speculate about deployments under the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement (Tribune, ARY News, Pakobserver). Pakistani forces are in the kingdom, but numbers and roles are undisclosed.
Pakistan signed the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement with Saudi Arabia and Türkiye in August, and this is its first major test. Missile attacks on civilian airports raise the risk of a wider regional war and of Pakistani involvement.
Pakistani workers and Umrah pilgrims travel through Saudi airports; flight disruptions and cancellations are possible.
Islamabad says it supports Saudi security and denies offensive action.
Critics say the denial leaves the real role unclear.
The line between defence and offence is the whole story. Watch the language of the next Pakistani statement and whether flights are suspended.
DailyDrop Pakistan edition No. 5 · Morning · FRI., OCT. 9, 2026