▲ A photo released by Yemen's Houthi rebels claiming the downing of a Saudi F-15 fighter jet
Saudi Arabia, facing a depleted inventory of interceptor missiles due to relentless airstrikes by Yemen's Houthi rebels, has urgently requested support from its allies, the Associated Press reported on September 16, local time.
According to two regional sources speaking on the condition of anonymity, Saudi Arabia recently asked France, the United Kingdom, Pakistan, and Egypt to deploy air defense assets to counter missile and drone attacks by the Houthis.
The sources stated that the additional requests for support were made as stockpiles of interceptor missiles ran low not only in Saudi Arabia but also in the United States, its primary arms supplier.
In the wake of the US-Iran war that has continued over the past six months, the United States also lacks the capacity to support Saudi Arabia.
As the world's largest oil exporter, Saudi Arabia must defend against Houthi attacks while securing safe oil transport routes, but it has ultimately failed to find a clear solution on either front.
Consequently, Riyadh is reportedly seeking to rally international allies for a collective response.
Neighboring countries have also stepped in to mediate.
Oman reportedly hosted discussions between US and Houthi rebel representatives last weekend, and Turkey is also discussing the issue with Iran and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), a Turkish government official told the AP.
However, the international community's response remains lukewarm.
Its primary ally, the United States, is already drawing a line against Saudi Arabia's requests for military support.
US President Donald Trump reportedly rejected a request from Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during a telephone conversation on September 10 for the US military to directly strike the Houthi rebels.
Responding to the AP's inquiry regarding Saudi requests for intervention, a Trump administration official only stated, "The US Central Command is enhancing intelligence sharing with Saudi forces and operating a task force to support Saudi operational planning."
A spokesperson for the UK Prime Minister's Office also noted, "The UK has a close defense partnership with Saudi Arabia," while declining to comment on whether Riyadh had requested military support or whether British troops were stationed locally.
The Houthi offensive also serves as the first test of the effectiveness of the Makkah Joint Defense Pact signed by Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan.
However, pointing to Pakistan's chronic economic distress and concerns over border friction with Iran, observers note that Islamabad remains reluctant to intervene in Middle Eastern conflicts. Turkey is similarly unlikely to take the brunt of the burden, given its complex geopolitical dynamics with Iran.
Officials from Turkey and Pakistan told the AP that they had not received requests for support from Saudi Arabia regarding the escalating Houthi offensive.
Amid these developments, the conflict between Saudi Arabia and the Houthi rebels is intensifying further.
The Houthi rebels claimed on the same day that they shot down a Saudi F-15 fighter jet over the skies of Marib Governorate in northeastern Yemen.
The US daily Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported that signs of Saudi Arabia firing Chinese-made ballistic missiles against the Houthis have also been detected.
Houthi rebels and Yemeni government officials claimed that remnants of a Chinese-made Dongfeng-15 (DF-15) ballistic missile were found in Yemen on that day, and that Saudi Arabia had launched the missile.
International oil transportation remains on high alert.
This follows disruptions to the operations of Saudi Arabia's core onshore transport route, the East-West Pipeline, caused by Houthi attacks.
At sea, while Iran effectively controls the Strait of Hormuz, Houthi rebels are expanding their presence in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, the gateway to the Red Sea.
Global oil prices edged down slightly on that day but remained volatile, staying above $100 per barrel.
(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)
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