Turkey, Pakistan to Deploy Forces to Saudi Arabia Under Mecca Alliance

Turkey, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia agreed on October 5 to immediately deploy military forces and capabilities to the kingdom under the Mecca Defense Alliance. The decision followed an emergency meeting of the Strategic, Political, and Defense Committee in Riyadh as Houthi attacks intensified.

The alliance committee, comprising the defense and foreign ministers of the three nations, decided to implement collective defense commitments for the first time since the pact was signed on August 7. Pakistani official Nauman Mahmood was appointed the alliance's first secretary-general for a three-year term.

“The security of each party constitutes an inseparable part of the collective security of the three countries.”

Houthi rebels claimed responsibility for drone and ballistic missile strikes targeting King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, an Aramco refinery in Rabigh, and military sites in southern Saudi Arabia on October 5. Residents reported strong explosions shaking windows near the capital's airport.

Simultaneously, the Saudi-led coalition said it struck Houthi weapons depots and explosive-laden boats in the Red Sea port of Hodeidah, thwarting imminent naval attacks. Yemeni government forces, backed by the coalition, advanced toward the strategic Bab al-Mandab strait and the port city of Mocha.

Turkish officials stated Ankara would also pursue a peaceful resolution through dialogue, noting Saudi Arabia's constructive approach. However, the deployment requires Turkish parliamentary approval under Articles 90 and 92 of the constitution, as the alliance has not yet been ratified by the Grand National Assembly.