Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan Form Regional Military Coalition
Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan formed a regional military coalition following extensive Houthi missile attacks, activating the Mecca Defense Pact amid mounting Gulf tensions.
An unprecedented escalation in the Gulf has triggered the formation of a regional military coalition: Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan have announced preparations to deepen defense cooperation and hold an emergency summit of their chiefs of staff. According to Reuters, the move is a direct response to a massive missile and drone attack launched by the Houthis from Yemen toward the kingdom.
The Mecca Defense Pact
The step was announced following an emergency meeting of foreign ministers in Riyadh under the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement. The pact establishes a far-reaching security commitment reminiscent of the NATO model, stipulating that an attack on the sovereignty of one member state will be considered an attack on all allies in the coalition.
The dramatic security consultations followed a day of heavy fire: the Houthis launched dozens of missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles at strategic targets in Saudi Arabia. The kingdom's air defense systems reported the successful interception of six ballistic missiles, while emergency sirens sounded in major hubs including Mecca, Jeddah, and the Red Sea oil terminal of Yanbu.
Iranian Reactions and Regional Impact
In a joint statement, the foreign ministers condemned the targeted fire toward population centers and holy sites, stating that the nations are exploring practical defense support measures. Meanwhile, Tehran attempted to distance itself from the escalation, with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian claiming in a Fox News interview that the Houthis act independently.
"The Houthis operate on their own accord and are solely responsible for their actions," Pezeshkian claimed.
Intelligence sources in the Middle East emphasize that recent Houthi operations along the Red Sea coast are conducted with the direct guidance of the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Amidst the rising tensions, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi revealed that a proposal was transmitted to the US via intermediaries, offering to reopen the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for sanctions relief and the unfreezing of assets.
