War in Yemen intensifies, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Türkiye launch collective defense

Faced with the ongoing offensive by the Houthi rebels in Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey launched a trilateral mutual defense treaty for the first time to ensure that the military forces of Pakistan and Turkey can be deployed in Saudi Arabia.

The British "Financial Times" pointed out that the three parties signed the "Mecca defense pact" in August this year, which clearly stipulates that an attack on any one of the countries is an attack on all members.

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According to people familiar with the matter, the youth movement stepped up its offensive in Yemen in August, doubling the pressure on the Yemeni government supported by Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia asked Washington for help and asked the US military to launch continuous air strikes against the youth movement, but the US government declined.

Currently, the Yemeni government forces supported by Saudi Arabia and the youth movement are fighting fiercely on multiple fronts including the Red Sea coast and the southwestern province of Taiz.

Yemeni government officials claim that government forces have retaken the Red Sea port city of Mocha near the key Bab al-Mandab Strait under the cover of air strikes.

Youth movement spokesman Yahya Saree claimed that they had launched multiple waves of long-range attacks using ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and drones against the airport in the Saudi capital Riyadh and the oil refinery in Rabigh on the Red Sea coast.

Since the Turkish Parliament has not ratified the Mecca Agreement, according to the Turkish Constitution, the Ankara authorities cannot send ground troops until the Turkish Parliament approves it.

Gonul Tol, a scholar at the Middle East Institute (MEI), a Washington think tank, analyzed on the social platform: "This means that at least for now, Turkey's actual support may be biased towards providing equipment support rather than directly sending ground troops."

Pakistan has kept the specific details of the troop deployment confidential. In fact, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have already signed a bilateral defense agreement. In April this year, Pakistan sent a fighter jet formation and an anti-aircraft missile battery to Saudi Arabia.

Informed officials familiar with the situation reminded that the Mecca Agreement focuses on collective defense. The military forces of Pakistan and Turkey should be deployed to Saudi Arabia for "assisted defense" and will not participate in the Saudi-led coalition's battle against the youth movement in Yemen. (Compiled by: Chen Yiwei) 1151008