The Arabian Peninsula is engulfed in the flames of war, with the pro-Saudi government of Yemen coalescing with the «Mecca partners» in order to jointly launch a campaign to retake Sanaa from the Houthi rebels, while, as Arab media outlets emphasize on October 5, Turkey and Pakistan are expected to become actively involved in the operation titled «Dawn of Yemen».
Already, the Yemeni capital Sanaa is under heavy bombardment, while the Shiite Houthi rebels respond, setting ablaze with unprecedented fury Saudi Aramco refineries in Jeddah.
Specifically, Pakistani sources report that the operation named «Dawn of Yemen» is underway, in which, according to the same information, Pakistan and other states affiliated with the so-called «Mecca Pact» are participating.
The operation is reportedly directed against Houthi forces in Yemen, with no details yet made public regarding its precise scope, composition, or operational targets.
Concurrently, the reference to the participation of other members of the so-called «Mecca Pact» implies, according to the same sources, a multilateral mobilization, including Turkey and Pakistan.
Pakistani sources: The "Dawn of Yemen" operation has begun with the participation of Pakistan and other members of the Mecca Pact against the Yemenis. https://t.co/SLQHzlT3Dn
— ???????? ????? (@SprinterPress) October 5, 2026
Houthis set Saudi Arabia's airports ablaze with missiles, wreck Aramco facilities
On the evening of October 5, the military spokesman for the Houthis stated that the group targeted King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, the Aramco refinery in Rabigh, Abha airport, Khamis Mushait air base, as well as facilities in the Najran and Jazan regions.
Residents in northern Riyadh report that explosions rattled windows near the airport, while flights are experiencing severe delays.
However, Saudi Arabia has not confirmed that strikes occurred at any of the cited targets.
Rabigh is located on the coast of the Red Sea, through which a portion of Saudi oil exports now passes in order to bypass the Strait of Hormuz.
In this manner, the Houthis are responding to pressure exerted at the Bab al-Mandeb, directing their fire against the alternative oil export route itself.
Severe problems and chaos at King Khalid Airport
At the same time, departure and arrival boards at King Khalid International Airport are now showing extensive flight delays and cancellations, following the alleged barrage of missile attacks from Yemen against Riyadh tonight, October 5.
? BREAKING: Circulating footage shows panic among travelers at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh following the sound of an explosion. https://t.co/vYAts1QJVe
— Russia RX (@Russia_RX24) October 5, 2026
Meanwhile, footage circulating on social media captures panic among travelers at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh following the sounds of successive explosions.
Saudi Arabia launched a major operation to retake Sanaa
Earlier, the government of Yemen announced that it launched a «strategic offensive» to retake Sanaa from the Houthis and claims that on Monday it captured the city of Mocha on the Red Sea.
For their part, the Houthis deny the loss of the coast.
The claims of neither side have been independently verified.
An Assistant Defense Minister stated that the first phase targets Mocha and the Bab al-Mandeb, the strait at the southern entrance of the Red Sea.
Yemeni government forces maintain that they captured Mocha with air support, captured Houthi fighters, seized Wahijah to the south, and control Dhubab airport.
Eyewitnesses reported that Houthi fighters abandoned certain positions near Mocha.
Nonetheless, earlier the Houthis launched two missiles toward the strait area.
Definitive: Turkey and Pakistan deploy troops to Yemen against Houthis
In turn, Turkey and Pakistan plan to deploy military contingents to Saudi Arabia, as reported by Lenta.ru on October 5.
The decision was reached following a meeting of the Strategic Policy and Defense Committee of the Mecca Alliance.
Indeed, the Ministry of Defense of the Kingdom announced the development on the social media platform X.
The meeting of representatives from the bodies was held in Riyadh.
The primary topic of discussion was the current security situation and the assessment of threats against the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Following the talks, the parties agreed to proceed immediately with the practical implementation of their collective defense commitments.
This includes the provision of agreed military formations and military capabilities, as well as ensuring their immediate deployment in accordance with previously approved agreements.
Committee members unequivocally condemned any attempt to attack the cities of Mecca and Medina, as well as attacks on civilian and economic infrastructure of Saudi Arabia.
The document underscored that the security of each of the three participating states constitutes an integral part of their overall collective security.
It is noted that on August 7, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin Salman, and Prime Minister of Pakistan Shehbaz Sharif signed a memorandum on collective defense. The memorandum provides for the development of all aspects of defense cooperation among the three states and aims at collectively deterring any form of aggression from other countries.
Lightning Houthi counterattack against Saudi-backed PLC
Forces of Ansar Allah recaptured Murad, near the Bab al-Mandeb, overturning the offensive of the Saudi-backed PLC that had been launched earlier today.
Visual footage from the area shows abandoned military vehicles belonging to the Saudi-backed forces following the fighting.
BREAKING: Ansarallah counterattacks at Bab al-Mandab Ansarallah forces have recaptured Murad near Bab al-Mandab, reversing the Saudi-backed PLC offensive launched earlier today. Footage from the area shows abandoned Saudi-backed military vehicles following the fighting. Earlier today, PLC forces claimed control of Bab al-Mandab, Dhubab and its airport under massive Saudi air cover, with the Saudi-led coalition saying 100 warplanes were supporting the offensive. The front is changing by the hour.
— DD Geopolitics (@DD_Geopolitics) October 5, 2026
Earlier in the day, PLC forces had announced that they took control of the Bab al-Mandeb, Dhubab, and its airport, under massive Saudi air cover.
The coalition led by Saudi Arabia reported that 100 warplanes were supporting the operation.
The frontline situation is now shifting from hour to hour.
Houthis seized residence of country's leader Rashad al-Alimi
The Ansar Allah movement, otherwise known as the Houthis, announced that it seized the residence of Rashad al-Alimi, president of the so-called Presidential Leadership Council of Yemen, in the southwestern part of the country on October 5.
The council administers areas under the control of the internationally recognized government of Yemen, which is backed by Saudi Arabia.
Houthi forces announced via their official channel that they took control of the Al-Maafir and Al-Mawasit areas in Taiz province.
Al-Mawasit is the hometown of al-Alimi, where he previously resided permanently.
The Al Masirah television network, which is controlled by the Houthis, broadcast images of the seizure of the building housing al-Alimi's residence.
In the footage, fighters are shown raising the flag of Yemen on the roof.
The announcement was made amid a new offensive by government forces.
According to the latest reports, on October 5 al-Alimi announced the launch of operation «Dawn of Yemen».
The stated objectives of the operation are presented as the restoration of state institutions and the recapture of the capital Sanaa from the Houthis.
Concurrently, reports are circulating claiming that the Houthis were driven out of the towns of Mocha and Dhubab.
The Houthis themselves dismiss these reports, characterizing them as false.
The operational picture remains murky.
It is recalled that President of the US Donald Trump had previously called upon European countries to dispatch military forces to the Middle East, with the aim of restoring freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab al-Mandeb.
As he had stated, this specific issue is more pressing for Europe.
Houthis: We repelled pro-Saudi forces in Yemen
Near Taiz, the Houthis maintain that they repelled government forces from two areas and now hold more than 2,000 square kilometers of the province.
The government reports that more than 50 Houthi vehicles retreated from positions west of the city.
Houthi officials stated that their strikes will become «more searing and wider», while warning that the airspace of Saudi Arabia is not safe for civilian flights, except for areas above Mecca and Medina.
To that end, flights destined for Riyadh were disrupted multiple times today, October 5.
Aramco facility blazes in Jeddah following Houthi pounding
A large-scale fire is underway at a Saudi Aramco facility in Jeddah, according to visual material circulating from the area, following reports of missile strikes from Yemen.
Videos made public capture extensive flames and dense smoke rising from the installations of the Saudi energy company.
ARAMCO BURNS IN JEDDAH Footage shows a massive fire raging at the Saudi Aramco facility in Jeddah following reported Yemeni missile strikes. Satellite thermal data confirms significant fire activity at the facility, matching footage emerging from the city. https://t.co/vAYaidiI1y
— DD Geopolitics (@DD_Geopolitics) October 5, 2026
Concurrently, satellite thermal data records significant high-temperature activity at that specific site, which appears consistent with the image of the fire shown in footage from Jeddah.
Thus far, available reports refer to missile strikes originating in Yemen, while no further data on the extent of damage or potential casualties has been provided in this footage.
Saudi Arabia's East-West pipeline shut down again
At the same time, Saudi Arabia's East-West crude oil pipeline was put out of service again, following yesterday's strike on Pumping Station No. 2, east of Riyadh, according to reporting by AFP.
A source from the Saudi energy sector reported that «major damage» was caused, leading the pipeline to suspend operations once again.
This specific pumping station, according to the same reports, had not previously been targeted in an attack.
? Saudi Arabia’s East-West oil pipeline appears to have been hit again! New satellite imagery from Oct 4 shows smoke stretching 50km from Pumping Station No. 2 east of Riyadh. The pipeline had only recently begun recovering from September attacks. Explore and Compare: https://t.co/nZ1W23J2df #SaudiArabia #MiddleEast #Oil
— Soar Atlas (@SoarAtlas) October 5, 2026
The East-West pipeline represents Saudi Arabia's sole crude oil export route that does not traverse the Strait of Hormuz.
Its operation had been halted on September 11 and had only partially restarted on September 22.
Sweeping Houthi drone strikes in Ras al-Ara
The Houthis (Ansar Allah) released two videos on October 5 capturing attacks against Saudi-backed forces in Yemen, at a time when government forces launched a major operation aimed at pushing the group back from the Bab al-Mandeb strait.
The first video shows FPV loitering suicide drones striking soldiers and vehicles across several fronts.
Houthi military media reported that new drones named «Shoawaz» (an Arabic word meaning «fragments») were used in the attacks, without, however, clarifying where and when exactly the strikes took place.
The second video depicts strikes against concentrations of Saudi-backed forces near Ras al-Ara.
In this case as well, Houthi military media provided no date.
The material, which appears recorded by a surveillance drone, shows weapons described by the Houthis as «domestically manufactured missiles» striking positions and causing fires in multiple vehicles, while dozens of fighters flee the area.
Ras al-Ara is located in Lahj province, north of the Bab al-Mandeb strait.
Fierce battles in al-Wazi'iyah (Taiz) and al-Mudharabah (Lahj)
The area turned into a front line in September, when the Houthis advanced south along the Red Sea coast, took Mocha, and pushed through Dhubab toward the strait.
Fighting then spread across the entire region between the al-Wazi'iyah district of Taiz and al-Mudharabah in Lahj.
It is not excluded that the footage from Ras al-Ara was recorded during that September advance rather than in recent clashes.
Earlier the same day, Saudi-backed forces launched a major operation along the Red Sea coast.
They claimed anew that they captured the Dhubab area and positions around the Bab al-Mandeb, while Saudi Arabia recorded that approximately 100 combat aircraft provided close air support for the operation.
The Houthis disputed reports of government territorial gains.
The renewed escalation in clashes followed the Houthi advance in September, when they seized Mocha and entered Dhubab, the coastal area situated directly across from Perim Island in the Bab al-Mandeb strait.
The Bab al-Mandeb strait connects the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and constitutes one of the most strategically significant maritime choke points in the world.
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