In a phone conversation on Monday, Saudi Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman and U.S. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth reviewed strategic defence ties and discussed the escalating Houthi attacks on Saudi territory.
Both officials said the call covered a range of issues, from bilateral defence cooperation to the broader regional security environment, and they highlighted ongoing efforts to de‑escalate the conflict in Yemen.
Prince Khalid posted the statement on the U.S. social media platform X, noting the discussion included “regional and global developments, including efforts to de‑escalate tensions in the region and the continued Houthi terrorist attacks against the Kingdom.”
United States Secretary of War Pete Hegseth confirmed that the conversation also touched on joint defence initiatives and the protection of Saudi infrastructure from Houthi missile strikes.
“We also discussed regional and global developments, including efforts to de‑escalate tensions in the region and the continued Houthi terrorist attacks against the Kingdom,”
said Prince Khalid.
The Saudi‑led coalition has been fighting the Houthi movement since March 2015 after the group seized Yemen’s capital Sanaa and other territories in 2014.
Anadolu Agency and Saudi Press Agency both reported the call on November 3, 2026, confirming the participants and the main topics discussed.
An Israel.com article reported the same call but its link is currently unavailable, leaving the story unconfirmed by that source.
