Three parliamentary sources told Reuters today, Tuesday (October 20, 2026), that Turkey has referred the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement, concluded with Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, to Parliament for approval, in a step that brings the second largest army in NATO closer to a formal joint defense pledge with Riyadh at a time when the Kingdom is facing attacks from the Yemeni Houthi group.
The three countries signed the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement in August, which stipulates that any armed attack on one of the parties to the agreement is considered an attack on all.
A text seen by Reuters showed that Article One of the agreement stipulates that the parties shall use all necessary means to remove threats targeting the integrity of the three countries’ territories, sovereignty, or internationally recognized borders.
Article Two of the Convention stipulates that if any of the parties is exposed to an armed attack or military aggression from another state or group of states, the parties must immediately provide assistance to the attacked party using all available mutual assistance measures.
This article, similar to Article 5 of the NATO Charter, refers to Article 51 of the United Nations Charter, which stipulates the right of states, individually or collectively, to self-defense against any armed attack.
The same article stipulates that the three countries will decide the scope and nature of the support provided after an objective assessment of the required assistance, and will cooperate within the limits of their available resources, including military capabilities and resources.
At an emergency meeting of the Mecca Alliance held in Riyadh earlier this month, the parties agreed to ensure the “rapid deployment” of forces and military capabilities in Saudi Arabia.
A Bloomberg report stated that the Royal Air Force's Typhoon fighter planes will help defend Saudi cities and infrastructure against air attacks launched by the Iran-allied Houthis, and Britain will also provide an Atlas A400M transport plane and military advisors.
Later, the British Ministry of Defense confirmed on Tuesday that London would deploy fighter planes on “defensive” missions to help Saudi Arabia protect itself in the face of escalating Houthi attacks. The ministry said in a statement that these missions aim to "contribute to protecting Saudi civilians and vital national infrastructure from air attacks, by mobilizing Typhoon fighter aircraft belonging to the Royal Air Force," adding that these aircraft "will not carry out any offensive strikes against the Houthis."
Saudi Arabia announces the destruction of a ballistic missile towards Riyadh
Today, Tuesday, the Saudi Air Defense destroyed a ballistic missile launched by the Houthi group in Yemen towards Riyadh. Today, the Saudi News Agency (SPA) quoted the official spokesman for the coalition forces, the “Coalition to Support Legitimacy in Yemen,” Major General Turki Al-Maliki, as saying that “a ballistic missile launched by the terrorist Houthi militia towards Riyadh was intercepted and destroyed.” The Saudi Civil Defense announced “the elimination of the hostile air threat to the capital, Riyadh,” calling, in a message via mobile phones today, on everyone to avoid the sites where the projectile fell or to pick up any object from the site of the event.
Over the past few days, the Houthi group in Yemen has continued its escalatory attacks and targeting of Saudi Arabia, including the capital, Riyadh, and especially King Khalid Airport.
US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced late Monday evening (October 19, 2026), via social media, that he is in the Middle East to visit US forces participating in a “historic mission,” the nature of which he did not specify. The American minister said that he visited members of the American armed forces in the Central Command area of responsibility, which covers the Middle East, northeastern Africa, and parts of Asia.
The announcement came hours after Axios reported that Hegseth was in Israel on an unannounced visit to the Hebrew state during which he met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Israeli Army Radio reported that Hegseth's meeting with Netanyahu was held at an air base in the desert in southern Israel.
The Axios news website linked Hegseth's visit to speculation about a possible new escalation of the conflict with Iran.
The US Department of Defense declined to comment on the visit and related reports. The Israeli Embassy in Washington has not yet responded to a request for comment.
Hegseth's visit comes amid escalating tensions in the Middle East war, as tensions rise between the United States and Iran over the Strait of Hormuz, and at a time when the Yemeni Houthis allied with Tehran intensify their attacks on Saudi Arabia.
News of Hegseth's trip comes a day after US President Donald Trump announced his support for Netanyahu in the Knesset elections scheduled to be held next week in Israel.
Opinion polls indicate that the national religious coalition led by Netanyahu is expected to lose its ruling majority, but the opposition may also face difficulty in forming a government.
US Vice President J.D. Vance declined to support Netanyahu in an interview earlier on Monday, saying that he does not interfere in the Israeli elections. Vance, who traveled to Budapest and endorsed Viktor Orban in the Hungarian elections earlier this year, added in an interview with the 2Y digital platform: “I support American candidates, and that's what I'm focused on, the midterm elections.” Vance continued: “I am not against supporting him, but I am not in favor of him either. I will not interfere in the Israeli elections.”
The Future Investment Initiative Forum, known as “Davos in the Desert,” which was scheduled to be held in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, at the end of this month, has been postponed, according to what its CEO announced, while the Kingdom is being attacked by the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen.
Maha Al Saud, CEO of the Future Investment Initiative, said in a statement published on the
The Saudi Future Investment Initiative Foundation organizes the forum annually, and this year's edition was scheduled to be held in Riyadh from October 26 to 29. For nearly a decade, this platform has been the face of the Kingdom's efforts to attract global investors, business leaders, and heads of state.
About half of the flights were canceled at Saudi airports
Saudi Arabia suspended operations at Riyadh International Airport after the Houthis attacked it earlier this month. The authorities did not announce a clear timetable for the resumption of air navigation.
The Houthis issued warnings to airlines against flying in Saudi airspace. Data issued by Cirium, a company specializing in aviation analytics, showed that more than 45 percent of flights departing from Saudi airports have been canceled since October 8.
Informing employees to work remotely
Saudi government bodies have informed the employees of their administrative offices in Riyadh to work remotely and to refrain from coming to their offices, starting from Monday until at least the end of the week, according to what three sources, namely an employee and two female consultants contracted with two government agencies, told Agence France-Presse.
Houthis: Carrying out new attacks on Saudi Arabia
Today, Monday, the Houthi group in Yemen announced the implementation of six military operations targeting sites and facilities inside Saudi Arabia, using ballistic and winged missiles and drones, during the past 48 hours.
Yahya Saree, the Houthis' military spokesman, said in a statement that the operations "came in response to the Saudi aggression."
He added, "More than 200 air strikes and missile attacks targeted civilian sites in Sanaa and other Yemeni governorates during the same period, resulting in dozens of deaths and injuries, most of them women and children." He explained that the total number of Saudi air strikes and missile attacks since the start of the escalation exceeded 2,700 raids.
The Saudi-led coalition has not yet issued any comment regarding the attacks announced by the Houthis.
The foreign ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council, who held their meeting in the Bahraini capital, Manama, yesterday evening (Sunday, October 18, 2026), condemned in a statement “the continued Iranian attacks with missiles and drones on the GCC countries and Jordan, directly or through its agents in the region, which targeted civilian facilities, service sites, residential areas, and diplomatic missions, and resulted in significant material damage, and constituted a threat to the security of citizens.” And its residents and their safety,” according to the Saudi News Agency “SPA”. The ministers called for "an immediate and unconditional cessation of all attacks, provocations and threats, and full compliance with Security Council Resolution No. 2817."
The ministers called on "the Security Council and the international community to assume their responsibilities and take what is necessary to ensure the full implementation of the resolution, hold those responsible for these attacks accountable, and oblige Iran to make full reparation for all damages resulting from them." The ministers stressed in their statement, “The Straits of Hormuz, Bab al-Mandab, and the Red Sea are vital waterways whose importance is not limited to the countries of the region, but rather represent major arteries for the global economy,” stressing that “ensuring their security, safety of navigation, and freedom is a common international interest and responsibility.”
