Daniel Wolfram
The newly formed Makkah Defence Alliance has already been activated.
Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Turkey are moving quickly to ship troops and military hardware to Saudi Arabia amidst heightened tensions with Yemen’s Houthi rebels.
High-ranking officials from all three nations gathered in Riyadh on Monday for an urgent security summit following escalating attacks by the group from Yemen.
Mobilising forces
The gathering marked the first major activation of the Makkah Defence Alliance signed in August. Under that pact, an assault on any single member of the alliance automatically triggers a joint military response from the others.
According to Dawn, a joint statement confirmed that the “committee decided to move immediately to the practical implementation of the collective defence commitments and to take the necessary measures to provide the agreed military forces and capabilities and ensure their rapid deployment in the Kingdom.”
Top Pakistani leaders attended the talks, including Defence Minister Khawaja Asif and Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir.
‘Presence in theatre’
Speaking to Geo News, according to The Telegraph, Asif clarified that while foreign personnel are already positioned on the ground, Saudi forces remain the only ones conducting direct combat operations.
He explained that Pakistani and Turkish troops currently maintain a “presence in theatre” focused mainly on reconnaissance and intelligence gathering.
“Whatever assistance they require is being provided. But right now, the Turkish and Pakistani armies are playing a supportive role,” Asif said during the interview.
The alliance also condemned recent strikes against civilian targets in Saudi Arabia, including attempted attacks near the holy cities of Makkah and Madina.
Reclaiming the coast
The activation of the alliance comes after weeks of fighting on the ground in Yemen. On Monday, Saudi-backed government forces launched a campaign to push back the Houthis and gain control of the strategic Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
Yemeni officials reported that allied troops successfully retook several key coastal positions, including the towns of Dhubab, Bab, and Hadeid.
Commenting on the military push, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters that the coalition action was expected.
Acknowledging Washington’s defence ties with Riyadh, Rubio noted that Saudi Arabia has suffered repeated rebel strikes and added that “they have a right to defend themselves.”
