Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan Forge New Defense Pact After Houthi Missiles Kill 3 at Riyadh Airport

Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan Forge New Defense Pact After Houthi Missiles Kill 3 at Riyadh Airport

Turkey and Pakistan will deploy military forces to Saudi Arabia under the Mecca Defense Alliance, responding to deadly Houthi attacks on Saudi airports that killed three people and injured 36.

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Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan have formed a new defense alliance that will see Turkish and Pakistani military forces deployed to the kingdom, following a series of deadly Houthi missile strikes on Saudi airports that killed three people and wounded 36 others [257086][255607][256505].

The agreement, known as the Mecca Defense Alliance or Mecca Pact, was announced as Pakistan and Turkey pledged "practical measures" to defend Saudi Arabia against Houthi attacks, signaling a possible new alliance against the Yemeni rebel group [257086]. The two nations committed to concrete support for Saudi Arabia's security, though it remains unclear what specific actions these measures will include [257086].

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan reaffirmed that the Mecca Pact is a defensive agreement, not an offensive one. He stated that Turkey will not send troops to another country's territory to launch an attack from there [257257].

The attacks on Saudi Arabia have escalated the Yemen conflict beyond the country's borders. Two attacks on Saudi airports killed three people and injured 36, according to the country's civil aviation authority [256505]. One person died and eight were injured at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, while a second attack on the airport in Abha killed two people and injured 28 [256505]. The Yemeni Houthi militia claimed responsibility for a Monday attack on King Khalid Airport [256505].

The strikes mark a new escalation in Yemen's conflict, which is spreading beyond the country's borders [257076].

In a separate development, Saudi Arabia's defense minister, Khalid bin Salman, held separate phone calls with his United States and French counterparts to discuss defense cooperation and regional and international issues. The calls focused on strengthening military ties and addressing shared security concerns in the region [255035].

The economic implications of the regional conflict have also drawn international attention. The International Monetary Fund has reached a tentative agreement to provide Pakistan with $1.21 billion in emergency financing. The deal aims to support Pakistan's economy, which relies heavily on energy imports from the Gulf, remittances from workers abroad, and regional financing—dependencies that have left the country vulnerable to the economic effects of the conflict in the Middle East [257081].

Sources

Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Turkey: New Defense Pact Targets Houthi Attacks #257086Turkey, Pakistan to send troops to Saudi Arabia #255607Turkey says Mecca Pact is defensive, not offensive #257257Pakistan's economy at risk? IMF agrees $1.21 billion bailout deal #257081Saudi defense minister holds separate calls with US, French counterparts on regional security #255035Riyadh Airport Hit: Three Dead in Houthi Missile Strike #257076Saudi Airports Hit by Deadly Attacks #256505

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