Pakistan and Turkey Pledge Support for Saudi Arabia After Houthi Attacks

The Government of Pakistan and the Government of Turkey have pledged unconditional support to Saudi Arabia following a series of Houthi drone and missile attacks targeting Saudi cities and infrastructure. The escalation included a drone attempt near the holy city of Mecca, which Saudi air defenses intercepted, and a strike in Taif that killed a Yemeni national and wounded over 80 people. The Houthis also claimed strikes on Saudi Aramco facilities in Yanbu and sensitive sites near the Riyadh airport.

These commitments are framed by the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement, a trilateral pact signed on August 7, 2026, between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey. Modeled on NATO's Article 5, the agreement stipulates that an attack on one member is an attack on all. Pakistan's military, which already maintains 8,000 troops in the Kingdom, has vowed to defend the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah to any extent. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan further announced that Turkey is ready to provide military and technical assistance under the pact.

While providing security guarantees, Pakistan is simultaneously attempting to mediate between the United States and Iran to prevent further regional escalation. This follows the June Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding facilitated by Pakistan. Meanwhile, the United States has reportedly rebuffed Saudi requests for military aid, leading to reports of Saudi-Israeli discussions regarding support against the Houthis. The Houthis have denied targeting holy sites, asserting their operations focus on military bases and oil facilities.