Allies unite behind Saudi Arabia as more Iranian flights curtailed
USO•Saudi, Turkish and Pakistani military chiefs are set to discuss support for Saudi Arabia as it faces Houthi attacks, while Iraq suspended flights to and from Iran at three more airports. An Iranian official threatened that regional countries blocking Iranian flights would also lose access to flights and airport services.
1. Saudi defense talks
Saudi, Turkish and Pakistani military chiefs are set to discuss support for Saudi Arabia under the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement, signed in August. The countries’ foreign ministers condemned attacks targeting Mecca and other civilian sites and affirmed Saudi Arabia’s right to defend itself. Turkey’s defense ministry said its chief of general staff would travel to Saudi Arabia to meet his Saudi and Pakistani counterparts.
2. Iranian flights suspended
On Friday, three Iraqi airports that operate flights to and from Iran suspended them, joining Baghdad airport. Iranian airlines had also been barred from the United Arab Emirates and Oman on Thursday in response to new US sanctions. Iranian leader’s adviser Mohammad Mokhber accused regional countries of aligning with the United States and threatened that if Iran could not fly or receive airport services, no country in the region would be able to do so either.
3. Conflict disrupts trade
The Houthis have repeatedly fired into Saudi Arabia, and authorities said they intercepted six ballistic missiles on Thursday. The article says the conflict has disrupted oil flows and shipping, including at the Red Sea and Strait of Hormuz. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said Tehran proposed reopening the Strait of Hormuz if its conditions were met, including an end to hostilities on all fronts within seven days and the lifting of the US blockade on Iranian ports.
