ISLAMABAD – Pakistani government strongly rejected a report shared by New York Times claiming that Pakistan Air Force fighter jets were used in strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen, calling the report “fake and fabricated.”
Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has warned international media organisations against speculative reporting regarding the deployment of Pakistan’s armed forces under the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement.
The ministry said any details concerning the operational employment of Pakistani forces, if required, would be communicated by the relevant authorities through official channels. The denial comes as Saudi Arabia faces renewed wave of Houthi attacks, with explosions reported in Riyadh and missile and drone threats escalating across the kingdom.
The latest confrontation has added another dangerous dimension to the widening regional conflict, with Saudi Arabia stepping up military operations against the Iran-backed Houthi movement in Yemen.
The disputed NY Times report cited unnamed Pakistani military officials as claiming that PAF fighter aircraft had conducted strikes against Houthi positions. According to this report, one senior Pakistani official allegedly confirmed that PAF jets had taken part in attacks, while another described Pakistan’s role as air support aimed at weakening Houthi missile and drone capabilities.
The report did not mention how many Pakistani aircraft were allegedly involved, which targets were hit or when the reported operations supposedly began. It also did not clarify whether the aircraft were operating from Saudi territory or from locations inside Yemen.
Pakistan’s military has not publicly confirmed that its fighter jets have carried out offensive strikes against Houthi targets.
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The latest NYT claim has put renewed attention on Pakistan’s military presence in the Kingdom. Pakistani officials acknowledged that Pakistani forces are already present in the kingdom, with their role linked to collective defence and the protection of Saudi territory. However, Islamabad has not publicly announced that Pakistani troops are conducting large-scale ground operations inside Yemen.
The disputed report itself portrayed Pakistani contribution as air-support mission focused on countering Houthi missiles and drones rather than a conventional ground offensive. Pakistan has also previously rejected false claims surrounding its fighter aircraft.
In September, social media reports alleged that Houthi missiles had damaged Pakistani JF-17 fighter jets stationed at Saudi Arabia’s King Abdulaziz Air Base. Pakistan dismissed those claims as “absolute fake”, and no credible confirmation of damage to Pakistani aircraft emerged.
The government urged international media organisations to avoid speculation about Pakistan’s military commitments under the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement.
Officials have maintained that any decision involving the operational employment of Pakistani forces will be communicated through the appropriate authorities.
Multiple explosions were reported in Riyadh by global media while Houthis claimed responsibility for missile attacks targeting Riyadh. Saudi authorities have also reported attacks involving airports in Riyadh and Abha, with three people reportedly killed and dozens injured.
Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree claimed that Riyadh airport had been targeted with a ballistic missile and warned international airlines about the risks of continuing to operate in Saudi airspace. The attacks increased pressure on Riyadh as Saudi Arabia attempts to contain the renewed Houthi threat while continuing preparations for major international events and pursuing its ambitious economic and tourism agenda.
Houthis have sought to consolidate their position along parts of Yemen’s coastline, raising concerns over the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a crucial route for global maritime trade. Fighting has also intensified around Taiz, with both sides claiming battlefield gains.
The renewed conflict triggered another major humanitarian crisis, with nearly 200,000 Yemenis reportedly displaced since September as fighting has intensified.
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