Allies unite behind Saudi Arabia as more Iranian flights restricted

(Reuters) – Saudi, Turkish and Pakistani military chiefs were due to discuss support for Saudi Arabia as it faces mounting attacks from ​Yemen’s Houthis, while restrictions on flights to and from Iran widened and a senior Iranian official threatened retaliation.

The Iran-aligned Houthis have stepped up attacks on ‌the Saudi-backed government in Yemen and fired into Saudi Arabia, disrupting oil flows from the world’s largest crude exporter as the wider Middle East war enters its eighth month.

With fighting escalating in Yemen, ceasefire efforts stalled and direct U.S-Iranian fire easing, Washington has shifted to tightening economic pressure through secondary sanctions on foreign companies that do business with Iranian firms.