by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Washington D.C. Bureau Chief
(Worthy News) – Saudi Arabia issued emergency warnings for Mecca and several other cities amid a potential missile or drone threat, as military chiefs from Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey convened urgent talks to strengthen their collective defense against escalating attacks by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis.
Saudi Civil Defense activated the kingdom’s National Early Warning Platform on Thursday, warning of a “potential danger” in Mecca, home to Islam’s holiest sites. Alerts were also issued for Jeddah, Taif, Yanbu and Tabuk before authorities later gave the all-clear. Saudi officials did not initially specify the nature of the threat.
The warnings came amid a growing series of Houthi missile and drone attacks against Saudi territory. Saudi authorities said last week that air defenses destroyed a Houthi drone south of Mecca before it could enter restricted airspace over the city.
Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan Move Toward Collective Defense
One day after the latest warnings, senior military commanders from Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey met in Riyadh under the recently established Makkah Joint Defense Agreement, reviewing what they described as threats facing the kingdom.
According to an official statement from the Saudi Press Agency, the military chiefs “strongly condemned the attacks on Makkah and on the Kingdom’s civil and economic infrastructure” and discussed expanding intelligence sharing, military coordination and the integration of their defense capabilities.
The three governments reaffirmed their commitment to collective defense and said they intend to begin translating the agreement into effective military cooperation immediately.
The talks included Saudi Chief of General Staff Gen. Fayyadh bin Hamed Al-Ruwaili, Pakistan’s Field Marshal Asim Munir and Turkish Chief of General Staff Gen. Selçuk Bayraktaroğlu.
The defense pact, signed in August, establishes a collective-security framework among the three countries under which an armed attack against one member is treated as an attack against all.
Missile and Drone Attacks Continue
The urgency surrounding the meeting was underscored only hours later.
Saudi-led coalition forces said Saturday that air defenses intercepted two drones headed toward Riyadh and ballistic missiles launched toward Khamis Mushayt, marking another round of attacks attributed to the Houthis.
Pakistan has also drawn a firm line around attacks threatening Islam’s holy cities. Addressing the United Nations General Assembly, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said any threat to the sanctity and safety of Mecca and Medina represented a “red line.”
The developments mark a significant escalation in the regional confrontation. The Houthis have stepped up attacks against Saudi cities, energy infrastructure and Red Sea shipping, while Riyadh, Ankara and Islamabad are moving to transform their new defense pact from a diplomatic agreement into an operational military partnership.
The Saudi-led coalition has supported Yemen’s internationally recognized government against the Houthis since 2015. The Houthis control Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, and much of the country’s populous north.
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