Pakistan, Turkiye and Saudi deterrence against Houthis: What that means
A new defense pact between Pakistan, Turkiye, and Saudi Arabia has been activated, leading to the deployment of Pakistani and Turkish forces to support Saudi operations in Yemen. Officials state the role is primarily defensive and reconnaissance-based.
Why it matters
The involvement of regional powers in the Yemen conflict marks a significant shift in military alliances and regional security dynamics.
Islamabad says its role is defensive, but Riyadh’s offensive in Yemen tests how long it can stay out of the fight.
x whatsapp-stroke copylink google Add Al Jazeera on Google info Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, accompanied by their foreign and defence ministers, pose after signing a joint defence agreement in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, on August 7, 2026 [Handout/Saudi Press Agency via Reuters] By Abid Hussain Published On 6 Oct 2026 6 Oct 2026 Islamabad, Pakistan — For the first time since it was signed in August, the Mecca pact between Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkiye is now in force.
At an emergency meeting in Riyadh on Monday, the pact’s top committee agreed to deploy Pakistani and Turkish forces to the kingdom, which is backing an offensive against Yemen’s Houthis.
Also covering this story
10 other newsrooms covered this event. We read each version separately.
Saudi-backed govt launches military drive to retake Houthi-held territory
Yemeni military says it has 'secured' Red Sea waterway
Yemen, Saudi Arabia strike Houthis as counteroffensive gets underway
Yemeni government forces advance on Bab el-Mandeb Strait
Saudi-Backed Yemen Forces Begin Bid to Retake Houthi Areas - Bloomberg.com
Yemeni military says it has 'secured' Red Sea waterway
Yemen's Houthis say they struck Riyadh airport, other Saudi sites
For First Time, Pakistan To Deploy Troops To Aide Saudi-Backed Yemen Forces
Mecca Pact activated: Pakistan, Turkey to rapidly deploy troops to Saudi Arabia
Saudi-backed forces recapture key areas around strait from Houthis in Yemen
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