Cairo: The conflict involving Iran, the United States and their regional allies is widening across the Middle East, with fighting in Yemen, attacks on Saudi Arabia and growing pressure on Gulf infrastructure raising concerns about a broader regional crisis.
The latest escalation has centred on Yemen, where Houthi forces have advanced along the Red Sea coast and reportedly captured the strategic port city of Mocha. Reports from Yemen said Saudi airstrikes hit the city's airport on Friday.
The developments are increasing pressure on a new defence agreement between Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Türkiye, while also raising concerns about important international shipping routes.
Mocha is near the Bab el Mandeb Strait, a major waterway linking the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden. Any prolonged disruption in the area could affect international trade and energy supplies.
The Houthi advance has also raised concerns that fighting in Yemen could escalate again after a period of reduced violence.
The Houthis have launched repeated attacks on Saudi Arabia in recent days. The Saudi led coalition said 73 people were wounded in Houthi attacks on several southern areas, including Khamis Mushait, Jazan and Najran.
Saudi Arabia has responded with military action against Houthi targets in Yemen.
The escalation is particularly sensitive for Pakistan because Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Türkiye signed the Makkah Agreement for Joint Defence in August. The agreement is intended to strengthen collective security and deterrence among the three countries.
Pakistan has strongly condemned attacks on Saudi Arabia and reaffirmed its support for the country's security and territorial integrity.
However, Islamabad has also stressed that the agreement is defensive and that it continues to support dialogue and diplomacy to reduce tensions.
Pakistan's Foreign Ministry said on Thursday that the agreement was not yet being discussed in terms of putting it into operation. It also said Pakistan remained committed to peace and stability in Yemen.
This position is important because earlier reports said Pakistan had warned Iran over Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia. Pakistan's Foreign Ministry did not confirm the report, describing it as unsubstantiated. It also said the Makkah agreement was defensive and that Pakistan remained committed to diplomacy.
The reported capture of Mocha has added to concerns about the wider regional conflict because of the city's location near the Bab el Mandeb.
The developments are unfolding as the United States and Iran continue their military confrontation.
US President Donald Trump said this week that he expected the war with Iran to end after the November US midterm elections. He also again threatened to attack Pickaxe Mountain, a deeply buried site near Iran's damaged Natanz nuclear facility that has been associated with its nuclear programme.
Trump's statement does not represent a confirmed timetable for the end of the war. There is no publicly confirmed peace agreement or settlement setting such a date.
The conflict has also affected shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, another critical route for global energy supplies. Oil prices have remained above $100 a barrel as disruptions in the Gulf and the Red Sea have increased concerns about supplies.
The United States says it has made progress in reopening shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, but the wider conflict remains unresolved.
Iran has continued to resist US pressure, while attacks and counterattacks have increased the economic and security costs of the conflict.
The effects are also being felt beyond military and energy infrastructure.
In the United Arab Emirates, plans for a major artificial intelligence data centre project are being revised because of security concerns following Iranian attacks on US linked technology infrastructure in the Gulf.
The project, known as Stargate UAE, was originally planned as part of a 5 gigawatt AI campus in Abu Dhabi. The first phase is a 1 gigawatt facility, with 200 megawatts expected to come online in 2026.
The wider project is expected to be spread across several locations in the UAE instead of concentrating it in one large campus.
Security measures under consideration reportedly include underground construction, blast resistant materials and air defence systems.
The project involves UAE based technology company G42 and major US technology companies including OpenAI, Oracle, Nvidia and Cisco.
The developments show that the regional conflict is affecting both security and long term infrastructure planning.
The escalation has increased pressure on the countries involved as they seek to balance military security, regional stability and diplomatic efforts to contain the conflict.