Mecca Defense Alliance Agrees to Deploy Forces to Curb Houthi Attacks, Xinhua Reports
- The Mecca Defense Alliance agreed on October 5 to immediately deploy military forces to Saudi Arabia as the kingdom faces intensifying missile and drone attacks from Yemen's Houthi...
- The strategic political and defense committee of the alliance held an emergency meeting in Riyadh on October 5, where Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Turkey agreed to execute their...
- A Turkish government anonymous source told the Middle East Eye news network on October 6 that Ankara does not plan to send a large number of troops or...
The Mecca Defense Alliance agreed on October 5 to immediately deploy military forces to Saudi Arabia as the kingdom faces intensifying missile and drone attacks from Yemen’s Houthi armed movement, Xinhua reported.
Mecca Defense Alliance Deploys Military Forces to Saudi Arabia
The strategic political and defense committee of the alliance held an emergency meeting in Riyadh on October 5, where Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Turkey agreed to execute their joint defense commitments. The mutual defense pact, signed in August, treats an armed attack against any member state as an attack against all three nations.
A Turkish government anonymous source told the Middle East Eye news network on October 6 that Ankara does not plan to send a large number of troops or directly intervene in the Yemen conflict. Turkey instead intends to deploy a small contingent and air defense systems to support Saudi defense, with parliamentary approval expected later in October.
Pakistan’s military presence in Saudi Arabia involves substantial air force units. The Saudi Ministry of Defence announced in April that a Pakistani force comprising fighter and support aircraft had arrived at King Abdulaziz Air Base in the kingdom’s eastern region, with sources noting the deployment includes roughly 8,000 personnel.
Yemeni Government Forces and Houthi Movement Clash on West Coast
The Presidential Leadership Council of Yemen announced the Yemen Dawn operation on October 5, aiming to retake territory controlled by the Houthi movement. The Saudi-led coalition stated that 100 combat aircraft participated in morning airstrikes supporting the offensive.
Yemeni government forces initially reported recapturing the strategic Bab al-Mandab area of Zubab and the Red Sea port city of Mocha on October 5. Houthi forces countered on October 6, claiming they repulsed multiple government advances and forced opposing troops to retreat.
Government and Houthi sources informed Xinhua on October 7 that government forces faced intense Houthi missile and drone strikes, retaining control of parts of Zubab but failing to retake Mocha. Yemen’s Ministry of Transport stated that Houthi forces used ballistic missiles and drones to attack Aden International Airport in the early hours of October 7, forcing a civilian passenger airliner to divert to Saudi Arabia. No casualties were reported from that airport strike.
Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Sarea declared in a statement on October 7 that the group launched ballistic missiles and drones against several airports and military facilities inside Saudi Arabia, including King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh. Sarea claimed that strikes on three military camps in southwestern Saudi Arabia caused dozens of casualties among Saudi soldiers and officers. Saudi authorities have not responded to the Houthi claims regarding casualties and facility damage.
Political Analysts Question Alliance Impact on Houthi Attacks
Talib al-Hasani, a Yemeni political analyst, noted that the Houthi movement possesses significantly more missiles and drones than when the Saudi-led coalition first intervened in 2015, leaving Saudi Arabia facing a far greater threat and higher security and economic costs in a prolonged conflict.
Batu Coşkun, an independent political analyst in Turkey, observed that while Turkish and Pakistani deployments enhance monitoring, early warning, and defensive capabilities, low-cost Houthi drones will remain a persistent threat that new deployments cannot entirely eliminate.
Mukbile Naji, a Yemeni political analyst, described the military situation in Yemen as highly unstable, noting that territory could change hands repeatedly because Houthi forces can withdraw to surrounding highlands, regroup, launch counterattacks, and continue threatening Saudi petroleum infrastructure and shipping routes with missiles and drones.
Saudi Arabia Pursues Political and Military Strategies in Yemen
Analysts indicate that Saudi Arabia is simultaneously backing Yemeni government operations, seeking collective deterrence through the Mecca Defense Alliance, and keeping political resolution channels open.
Abdul Aziz Al-Shabani, a researcher at the Riyadh Center for Political and Strategic Studies, stated that the crisis involves military, political, and regional dimensions that cannot be resolved through military means alone, requiring Saudi Arabia to deploy comprehensive capabilities and methods.
Batu Coşkun maintained that a political settlement remains the sole long-term solution for resolving the conflict.