DOMINANT ANGLE
Jakarta is first measuring the fate of its 74 nationals blocked in Mokha and calling for de-escalation, while Riyadh mobilizes Pakistani and Egyptian support in the face of the Houthi offensive.
Dominant angle identified — does not reflect unanimity of this country’s media
KEY POINTS
- 01
74 of the 77 Indonesian nationals recorded in Mokha remain stranded in the port recaptured by the Houthists on September 10, according to the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
- 02
The UN states, in a statement released on Friday, September 18, that the fighting has already displaced more than 112,000 people and driven nearly 3,000 civilians to flee by sea to Djibouti.
- 03
Pakistani military spokesman Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry told Arab News that Pakistan will defend Saudi Arabia "diplomatically and militarily", under the defense pact signed last month with Riyadh and Ankara.
ANALYSIS
Jakarta, September 19, 2026. Early Saturday, two explosions rocked Riyadh after the Saudi civil defense issued an air alert, a first for the capital since the intensification of the Houthi offensive. The alert, lifted half an hour later, was not followed by an official explanation of its origin, reports CNN Indonesia, citing AFP. This episode adds to a continuous escalation since July, when the Houthis, in response to a strike on Sanaa airport, imposed a maritime blockade on Saudi oil exports and took control of the port of Mokha, the island of Perim, and the Bab al-Mandab strait.
For Indonesian diplomacy, the priority remains consular. The deputy spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Vahd Nabyl, confirmed on Thursday that 74 of the 77 Indonesian nationals recorded in Mokha remain blocked in the port retaken by the insurgents on September 10. "We continue to monitor the situation through the embassies in Muscat, Riyadh, and the consulate in Jeddah," he specified, calling for "de-escalation" of the conflict rather than taking sides. The embassy in Riyadh also relayed Saudi security instructions to its nationals, recommending that they stay away from windows and open areas.
At the regional level, the Indonesian press reports on the mobilization of support for Riyadh: Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman sought Egypt's support during a meeting in Cairo with Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, while Islamabad, through military spokesperson Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, committed to defending the kingdom "diplomatically and militarily" under the defense pact signed with Saudi Arabia and Turkey. Pakistani Chief of Staff Asim Munir also called on his Iranian counterpart to use his influence over the Houthis to spare Saudi energy infrastructure.
According to the UN, cited on Friday by CNN Indonesia, the fighting has already displaced over 112,000 people and pushed nearly 3,000 civilians to flee by sea to Djibouti. The Houthis, for their part, claim 26 Saudi strikes in 24 hours and 300 in a week, a tally that Riyadh does not confirm.
SOURCES (2)
- CNN IndonesiaMEDIUM
- Saudi Minta Dukungan Mesir Buat Gempur Houthi
- Pakistan Desak Iran Bujuk Houthi Tidak Serang Fasilitas Energi Saudi
- RI Dorong Penyelesaian Konflik Saudi vs Houthi Secara Damai
- Houthi Klaim Saudi Luncurkan 26 Kali Serangan ke Yaman 24 Jam Terakhir
- 74 WNI Terjebak di Kota Mokha Yaman yang Direbut Milisi Houthi
- Riyadh Diguncang Ledakan, Pertama Sejak Saudi-Houthi Memanas
- Saudi Perang dengan Houthi, Pakistan Bersumpah Bela Riyadh
- Tempo EnglishMEDIUM
