The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting on Thursday dismissed as fake and fabricated a news report claiming that Pakistan Air Force (PAF) aircraft were being used against Yemen's Houthis. The ministry shared a screenshot of a New York Times report published on October 7 on its official X handle, which cited an unnamed source as saying that PAF fighter jets were being employed against the group amid its escalating conflict with Saudi Arabia.
Denying the report, the ministry stated on X that the NYT story "attributing the employment of PAF aircraft against Houthis is fake and fabricated." "International media houses are again asked to avoid speculative reporting with regard to the employment of Pakistan's military forces under the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement.
Details of any deployment, if necessary, will be given by the authorities concerned," it added. Separately, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said on Thursday that his country was assessing how it could help Saudi Arabia counter attacks from Yemen's Houthis as part of the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement, signed between the two countries and Pakistan.
Speaking at a joint press conference with his Hungarian counterpart in Ankara, Fidan stressed that the pact was defensive rather than offensive, noting that military officials were evaluating possible contributions, particularly in air defence, electronic warfare and technical support. He made it clear that Turkiye would not send troops to another country to carry out attacks on its territory.
"Yemen's legitimate government forces are already continuing the battle on the ground, and Saudi Arabia is supporting them," Fidan said, adding that military delegations would determine Saudi Arabia's operational defence needs and what contributions Turkiye and Pakistan could make. Turkish officials have stated that any support provided at this stage would largely be in a bilateral capacity, as Turkiye's parliament has not officially ratified the joint defence pact.
Fidan noted on Thursday that work was largely completed for the agreement to be submitted for parliamentary approval and that they aimed to send it "as soon as possible". Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump on Thursday ruled out attacking Iran before the US midterm elections on November 3, saying Washington was holding "productive discussions" with Tehran.
Trump's post on his Truth Social platform followed a surge in oil prices driven by media reports suggesting potential new US strikes prior to those elections. "I want to make it clear to everybody that, while Iran is in very bad condition, both economically and militarily, and while the blockade will remain in full force and effect... we will not be attacking Iran at any time prior to the midterm elections," he wrote.
"We are having productive discussions with the Islamic Republic of Iran," he added, without providing additional details. Additionally, the US on Thursday imposed sanctions targeting "the remnants of Iran's shadow fleet" of tankers used to transport oil products to foreign markets - the latest move to ramp up pressure on Tehran.
"Today's action effectively neutralizes the vast majority of Iran's remaining shadow fleet network," the US Treasury Department said in a statement.