The military chiefs of Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan are set to discuss support for Riyadh under their Mecca Joint Defence Agreement as Yemen’s Houthis intensify attacks on the kingdom.
The Houthis said they launched missiles and drones at Saudi targets on Thursday (24 September). Saudi authorities said they intercepted six ballistic missiles. Turkey’s military chief travelled to Saudi Arabia on Friday for talks with his Saudi and Pakistani counterparts.
French President Emmanuel Macron has also announced plans to send soldiers, radar and defence systems to help protect the Saudi oil port of Yanbu. He said the deployment was intended to defend the port, not to involve France directly in the fighting.
Turkey’s parliamentary speaker, Numan Kurtulmuş, said the three-country defence pact still required parliamentary approval in Turkey. He added that it could eventually expand to include other countries, potentially Iran.