Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, and Pakistan Begin Joint Response to Houthi Offensive

First Response Under “Mecca Joint Defense Agreement” Set in Motion
Emergency Meeting of Chiefs of Staff from Three Nations Planned
Houthis Expand Missile and Drone Attacks on Saudi Arabia

As Iran-linked Houthi rebels in Yemen intensify their attacks on Saudi Arabia, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, and Pakistan have begun discussions on a response under their joint defense agreement.

Houthi Rebels in Yemen. Photo by EPA Yonhap News

According to major foreign media reports on the 25th (local time), the foreign ministers of the three countries held a meeting under the "Mecca Joint Defense Agreement" and condemned the attacks targeting Mecca, Islam's holy site in Saudi Arabia, as well as civilian and economic facilities. They also reaffirmed Saudi Arabia's right to self-defense.

The Mecca Joint Defense Agreement, signed by the three countries on August 7, 2026, is a collective defense pact that stipulates that an armed attack on one country is regarded as an attack on all three countries.

The three foreign ministers also agreed to prepare for an emergency meeting of their chiefs of staff to discuss ways to support Saudi Arabia in accordance with the agreement. Selcuk Bayraktaroglu, Chief of the General Staff of the Turkish Armed Forces, is scheduled to depart for Saudi Arabia on the same day to attend the relevant meeting. Specific support measures have not yet been disclosed.

The Houthi rebels announced on the 24th that they had fired dozens of missiles and drones at targets inside Saudi Arabia, while Saudi authorities declared that they had intercepted six ballistic missiles. Recently, Houthi attacks have also caused continued disruptions in Saudi Arabia's oil transportation.

Meanwhile, Iran has sought to distance itself from the Houthis’ recent offensive. On the 24th, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian denied allegations that the Houthis were acting under Iran’s orders in an interview with Fox News, stating that the group "takes responsibility for its own actions."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.