Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Turkiye agreed to immediately implement their collective defence commitments and ensure the “rapid deployment” of agreed military forces and capabilities in the kingdom after an emergency meeting in Riyadh. Saudi Defence Minister Khalid bin Salman said the Strategic Political and Defence Committee had “agreed to activate collective deterrence measures” in response to attacks by Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi group.
Pakistan’s Foreign Office said the three countries would “provide the agreed military forces and capabilities and ensure their rapid deployment” to Saudi Arabia under “approved arrangements” and in accordance with national laws. The alliance’s August agreement treated an armed attack on any one member as an attack on all, and the committee decided to move immediately to practical implementation, while the joint statement did not give details or a timeline for troop deployment.
Saudi-backed Yemeni forces launched a major offensive against the Houthis in Yemen, and the Saudi-led coalition provided air cover for the operation.
Maj. Gen. Turki al-Malki said “100 fighter jets” were supporting government forces and that the coalition had secured “air protection” of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and destroyed hundreds of Houthi targets.
Rashad al-Alimi said the operation, dubbed “Yemen Dawn”, had begun with the aim of “restoring state institutions, liberating” Sanaa and ending “the Houthi terrorist militia coup”.
The World Health Organization said the latest escalation had killed at least 959 people and wounded more than 4,200, and the UN migration agency said about 174,097 people had fled across the waters to Djibouti.
The Mecca Defence Alliance’s emergency meeting also condemned an attempted targeting of the holy cities of Mecca and Medina and ongoing attacks on cities, civilian and economic facilities in Saudi Arabia. Saudi Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman said the committee reaffirmed solidarity and unity “in confronting the heinous attacks against the Kingdom and the holy sites,” and the joint statement said the security of each member state was an indivisible part of collective security.
Houthi military spokesman Yahya Sari announced “three military operations” aimed at sites in Saudi Arabia, including King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, the Aramco refinery in Rabigh, Abha Airport, the Khamis Mushait base, and other sites in the south of the Kingdom. US secretary of state Marco Rubio said, “Obviously the Saudis have come under Houthi attack … and they have a right to defend themselves,” as the activation of the Mecca pact added another layer to Saudi Arabia’s military response while Washington provided support.
What some reports left out
Mecca Pact appoints Pakistan’s Lt. Gen. Nauman Mehmood as first secretary-general
Reported by: i24NEWS
Not found in: Al Jazeera, Al-Monitor, Caspian Post, Haaretz, Iran International, Middle East Eye, NDTV, The Jerusalem Post, The Media Line, elaph, Kurdistan 24