The coalition led by Saudi Arabia announced that an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), which it said was launched by the Houthis in Yemen, was intercepted and destroyed by Saudi air defense systems in the south of Mecca.
Coalition Spokesperson Major General Turki al-Maliki reported that the UAV was shot down at 18.50 on Tuesday evening, September 15, before entering Mecca's restricted airspace. Al-Maliki described the security of holy sites and pilgrims as a 'red line'.
The Houthis denied the accusation that they were targeting Mecca.
WILL THE AGREEMENT BE ACTIVE?
The latest attacks against Saudi Arabia have raised a critical question for the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement signed between Turkey, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia in August: Can Riyadh being under attack activate the collective defense mechanism?
The agreement stipulates that an armed attack against any of the three countries will be considered an attack on all three countries. However, there is no detailed mechanism in the documents released to the public stating that this would automatically initiate a military intervention, similar to NATO's Article 5.
Pakistan Army Spokesperson Ahmed Sharif Chaudri also said on September 16 that how and when the agreement will be operational depends on the decision of the political leaderships of the three countries.
PAKISTAN: WE ARE SHOULDER TO SHOULDER
Following the attack attempt, Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif condemned the incident in harsh terms and announced that his country stood by Saudi Arabia.
Sharif stated that Pakistan stands "shoulder to shoulder, in determination and solidarity with Saudi Arabia" and that they support Riyadh's efforts to protect the security and inviolability of holy places. The Pakistani Prime Minister also praised the rapid intervention of the Saudi forces in blocking the UAV.
However, Sharif called for maximum restraint on all parties in the region. Emphasizing that conflicts should not expand further, Sharif pointed out that problems should be solved through dialogue and diplomacy rather than on the battlefield.
STATEMENT FROM ARMY SPOKESMAN
The latest developments around Mecca have brought the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement, signed by Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Pakistan on August 7, back to the agenda.
The agreement between the three countries stipulates that an armed attack against any of the parties will be considered as an attack against all three countries. The agreement also aims to improve defense cooperation and strengthen the common deterrence capacity of the three countries.
However, no statement has been made so far that Saudi Arabia considers the latest UAV initiative as an "armed attack" within the scope of the agreement or that it has requested the collective defense provision to be officially activated.
Just hours before the UAV incident, remarkable statements came from the Pakistani army about how the agreement would work. Pakistan Army Spokesperson Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudri said that the Mecca Agreement was not intended to be offensive and that its basis was 'collective deterrence'.
Chaudri stated that the agreement was not established against other countries or alliances, but was complementary to the existing international relations of the three countries. He stated that the political leaderships of Islamabad, Ankara and Riyadh will decide together under what conditions and how the defense obligations arising from the agreement will be implemented.
Türkiye'S ATTITUDE
Türkiye, on the other hand, announced its support for Riyadh in the face of attacks against Saudi Arabia in recent days. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the Houthis' attacks targeting Saudi Arabia on September 8, reiterated its support for the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and called on the Houthis to end their aggressive actions.
While Ankara repeated the same stance after the drone attacks on Saudi Arabia from Iraqi territory on September 12, it emphasized that regional tension should not be escalated. Türkiye also maintains its commitment to strengthening its collective deterrence and defense capacity with Pakistan and Saudi Arabia within the framework of the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement.
TENSION IS INCREASING IN THE REGION
The drone incident near Mecca occurred at a time when Saudi Arabia has raised the alert level in various regions, including Mecca and Jeddah, due to increasing security threats in recent days.
According to Reuters, the Houthis' activities on Yemen's Red Sea coast and their advance around the Bab al-Mandab Strait have increased concerns about Saudi Arabia's energy and maritime trade routes. The Riyadh administration had issued comprehensive security warnings following the latest attacks on September 15.
