Saudi Arabia has officially responded to the Houthi missile and drone claims that shook the kingdom on Monday. The Saudi Foreign Ministry condemned what it called "continued Houthi attacks" on civilian and economic targets, listing cities from Makkah to Yanbu — the first official Saudi acknowledgment that the attacks happened. Hours later, the Makkah Joint Defence Alliance held an emergency meeting, with Pakistan and Turkey pledging rapid troop deployment to the kingdom. What Riyadh has not done is confirm the Houthis' specific damage claims about the airport and the refinery.
Al-Haram Mosque, Makkah. The Makkah Joint Defence Alliance convened an emergency meeting after the attacks. (Photo: Al Jazeera English / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0)
What Saudi Arabia Said
The Foreign Ministry's statement was blunt. It condemned the Houthis' "continued attacks" against civilians and against civilian, economic and other facilities across the kingdom, and reaffirmed Saudi Arabia's right to defend its territory and take "all necessary measures." The ministry named the areas it says were targeted: Makkah, Madinah, Riyadh, Abha, Khamis Mushait, Jazan, Najran, Taif and Yanbu — plus Saudi vessels in the southern Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandab Strait.
That list matters. It is the first time Riyadh has officially acknowledged that attacks on this scale took place — a step beyond Monday night's silence, when the kingdom had issued no immediate comment on the Houthi claims. But read the statement carefully: it confirms attacks happened, not that any specific target was hit.
Confirmed vs Claimed: Where Things Stand
Here's the honest picture, split into what officials have confirmed and what remains one side's claim:
| Item | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia took place | Confirmed by Saudi Foreign Ministry | Official condemnation, Oct 7 |
| Targets included Riyadh, Makkah, Madinah and southern cities | Confirmed (listed by the ministry) | Saudi Foreign Ministry statement |
| "Precise and direct" hit on King Khalid Airport; air traffic disrupted | Houthi claim only — unconfirmed | Yahya Saree's statement |
| "Precise and direct" hit on Aramco refinery in Rabigh; fire broke out | Houthi claim only — unconfirmed | Yahya Saree's statement |
| 60 Saudi airstrikes on Yemen in 24 hours as the trigger | Houthi claim only — attribute, don't state as fact | Yahya Saree's statement |
Northern Riyadh. (Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0)
The Makkah Pact: Pakistan and Turkey Step In
The second overnight development came from the Makkah Joint Defence Alliance, which held an emergency meeting in Riyadh. According to The Week, Pakistan and Turkey pledged the rapid deployment of forces and capabilities to Saudi Arabia, with both countries' militaries set to play a supportive role as the pact activates.
A more detailed account from the outlet Nukta describes collective deterrence commitments being activated and a rapid troop deployment overseen under the alliance — but that reporting is single-source at this stage, so treat the specifics as unconfirmed. What is solid: the pledge itself, and that the alliance — built around the defence of the holy cities — is now moving from paper to action.
For Pakistan, this follows its existing Mecca Alliance commitments to Riyadh, which our earlier reporting covered: Pakistan and Turkey to rapidly deploy troops to Saudi Arabia. Whether boots are actually on the ground yet is not confirmed — pledged and activated is not the same as deployed.
Riyadh airport. The claimed strike on King Khalid International Airport remains unconfirmed. (Wikimedia Commons, public domain)
Why This Matters
Two things changed the story overnight. First, Riyadh broke its silence — and in doing so, drew a clear line between acknowledging attacks and validating the Houthis' version of events. That distinction will shape every claim from here on. Second, the conflict is visibly internationalizing: a defence pact centered on Makkah is activating, with two major Muslim militaries committing forces.
The backdrop hasn't moved: the Saudi-led coalition's "Dawn of Yemen" offensive continues, with government forces pressing near the Bab al-Mandeb Strait. Read our full coverage of Monday's claims here: Houthis claim strikes on Riyadh airport, Aramco refinery, and the wider offensive here: Yemen launches counteroffensive.
Key Takeaways
- Saudi Arabia's Foreign Ministry officially condemned "continued Houthi attacks" — the kingdom's first official response to Monday's claims.
- Riyadh confirmed attacks occurred and listed targeted areas including Makkah, Madinah, Riyadh and southern cities — but did not confirm the Houthis' specific damage claims.
- The Makkah Joint Defence Alliance held an emergency meeting; Pakistan and Turkey pledged rapid troop deployment to Saudi Arabia.
- Whether Pakistani or Turkish troops are actually on the ground is not yet confirmed — pledged is not deployed.
- Houthi spokesman Yahya Saree claims the strikes were retaliation for 60 Saudi airstrikes in 24 hours — attribute this, don't state it as fact.
- The "precise and direct" hit claims on the airport and refinery remain unconfirmed.
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Saudi Arabia say about the Houthi attacks?
The Foreign Ministry condemned "continued Houthi attacks" on civilians and on civilian, economic and other facilities, reaffirmed the kingdom's right to defend its territory and take all necessary measures, and listed targeted areas from Makkah and Madinah to Riyadh, Abha, Khamis Mushait, Jazan, Najran, Taif and Yanbu, plus vessels in the southern Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab.
Did Saudi Arabia confirm the airport and refinery were hit?
No. Riyadh confirmed that attacks took place and named the targeted areas, but it has not confirmed the Houthis' specific claims of "precise and direct" hits on King Khalid International Airport or the Aramco refinery in Rabigh, nor the claimed air-traffic disruption or refinery fire. Those remain Houthi claims only.
What is the Makkah Joint Defence Alliance?
It is a defence pact centered on the protection of the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah, bringing Saudi Arabia together with partners including Pakistan and Turkey. After an emergency meeting in Riyadh, the alliance began activating — with Pakistan and Turkey pledging rapid deployment of forces and capabilities in a supportive role, according to The Week.
Are Pakistani and Turkish troops already in Saudi Arabia?
Not confirmed. Both countries have pledged rapid deployment under the Makkah alliance, and the pact is described as activated — but no official source has confirmed that troops are actually on the ground yet. A pledge to deploy and a deployment are two different things, and the reporting so far only establishes the first.
What do the Houthis say triggered the attacks?
Spokesman Yahya Saree claims the operations were retaliation for 60 Saudi air and missile strikes across Yemen in the previous 24 hours, hitting Sanaa, Al-Jawf, Taiz, Hajjah, Saada and Marib. That figure comes from the Houthi statement alone — attribute it, don't present it as an established fact. He also warned airlines against using Saudi airspace, except over Mecca and Medina.
What happens next?
Watch three things: whether Riyadh ever addresses the specific damage claims; whether Pakistani or Turkish deployments materialize on the ground; and whether the coalition answers with heavier strikes inside Yemen. Until independent confirmation arrives, the damage claims stay in the "claimed" column.
Sources
- Tribune India (via ANI) — Saudi Arabia condemns Houthi strikes after Riyadh airport, Aramco refinery in Rabigh targeted (Oct 7, 2026): https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/world/saudi-arabia-condemns-houthi-strikes-after-riyadh-airport-aramco-refinery-in-rabigh-targeted/
- ET Now (via ANI) — Houthis claim missile, drone strikes on Saudi Arabia's airports, oil facility, military sites (Oct 6, 2026): https://www.etnownews.com/news/houthis-claim-missile-drone-strikes-on-saudi-arabias-airports-oil-facility-military-sites-article-156280952
- The Week — Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey Makkah defence alliance against Houthi attacks (Oct 6, 2026): https://www.theweek.in/news/middle-east/2026/10/06/pakistan-saudi-arabia-turkey-makkah-defence-alliance-against-houthi-attacks.html
- Nukta — Houthis claim strikes on Riyadh airport and refinery as Pakistan and Turkey pledge rapid troop deployment (Oct 6, 2026): https://nukta.com/houthis-claim-strikes-on-riyadh-airport-and-refinery-as-pakistan-and-turkey-pledge-rapid-troop-deployment
By GlobalDeskNews Staff