Turkey, Egypt, Saudi, Pak affirm Riyadh’s right to self-defence amid Houthi attacks

File photo: Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman, and Pakistan's PM Shehbaz Sharif pose after signing a joint defence agreement in Mecca, Saudi Arabia The foreign ministers of Turkey, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan on Tuesday affirmed Riyadh’s right to defend itself in line with international law amid escalating attacks by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis, according to Reuters.Following a meeting on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, the ministers also stressed the need to maintain the safety of navigation in the region.The four countries expressed deep concern over the ongoing conflicts in the region and said dialogue and diplomacy were the only path to a sustainable solution.They also voiced support for Yemen’s government in its efforts to achieve stability and peace.Regional tensions and maritime securityThe joint statement comes amid heightened concerns over Houthi attacks and their impact on regional security and navigation.Earlier, Pakistan has separately described the situation around the Bab el-Mandeb strait as “exceptionally serious” and called on the Houthis to stop their activities, according to the backgrou...