Houthi Threat Reaches Mecca, Pakistan Hides Behind 'Ops' To Avoid Saudi Fight
Saudi Arabia has sought intelligence assistance from Israel to defend against Houthi rebel attacks, following Pakistan's reluctance to commit military forces to the conflict. This shift highlights shifting regional alliances and the fragility of the Mecca Defence Alliance.
Why it matters
The cooperation between Saudi Arabia and Israel, despite a lack of formal ties, signals a significant realignment in Middle Eastern security dynamics due to the Houthi threat.
For the first time in history, the Islamic holy city of Mecca was put on emergency alert, warning of a possible aerial attack as fighting between Saudi Arabia and Yemen's Houthi rebel group intensified. Though the alert was lifted within minutes, it has sparked outrage across the Muslim world and deepened the conflict roiling the region.It has also laid bare the fractures within the much-talked-about Mecca pact between Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Turkey as Riyadh turned to Tel Aviv for help after Islamabad backed out of the fight in self-interest.The Unlikely AllianceIsraeli media reported that Israel and Saudi Arabia have held talks mediated by the US Central Command (CENTCOM), where Riyadh sought Tel Aviv's help to defend itself against Houthi attacks through intelligence assistance, as cited by The Jerusalem Post.Saudi Arabia and Israel do not have formal ties, as the kingdom has not joined the Abraham Accords, maintaining that formal…
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