Pakistan's military spokesperson said the country will go 'to any extent' to defend Saudi Arabia, citing the Mecca defense pact, as Houthi drone attacks on the kingdom intensify. One Yemeni resident was killed by debris from an intercepted drone in Taif.
Saudi Arabia accused Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels of attempting to attack Mecca, Islam's holiest city, prompting regional condemnation but no military support. The Houthis have denied responsibility for the alleged attack.
Saudi Arabia conducted hundreds of airstrikes against Houthi positions in Yemen after Iran-backed rebels launched drones and missiles at Saudi cities, including an alleged attack near Mecca that the Houthis deny. The escalation marks a significant widening of the broader Middle East conflict that began in February.
The three nations signed the 'Mecca Joint Defence Agreement' establishing that an armed attack on one signatory would be considered an attack on all, as regional tensions intensify with the ongoing US-Iran war. Turkey clarified the pact does not contradict its NATO commitments.
