Mecca Joint Defense Agreement

Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Pakistan to hold urgent chiefs-of-staff meeting after Houthi attacks

The Houthis have launched strikes on the Saudi-backed government in Yemen and repeatedly fired into Saudi Arabia, disrupting oil flows from the world's largest energy exporter.

|ByREUTERS
Iran-aligned Houthi fighters move next to a destroyed vehicle following what the source described as an attack on Saudi-backed forces in the location given by the source as al Jawf governorate, Yemen, in this screengrab taken from a video released by Houthi Military Media on September 15, 2026.
Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan addresses the 81st United Nations General Assembly at UN headquarters in New York City, US, September 22, 2026.

Katz attacks 'paper sultan' Erdogan over UNGA speech, urges him to stop 'messing with Israel'

The defense minister accused Erdogan of financing and embracing Hamas, and claimed that he dreams of "restoring the Ottoman Empire" in a post on X/Twitter.

|ByTZVI JASPER
(From L) TURKISH PRESIDENT Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif chat after signing a joint defense agreement in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, Aug. 7.

Saudi Arabia turns to Israel as Houthi attacks expose limits of the Mecca Pact - opinion

Houthi strikes are pushing Saudi Arabia and Israel toward unprecedented military and intelligence cooperation.

|ByNEVILLE TELLER
IDF soldiers operating as part of Operation Dawn 2.0, published on September 7, 2026.

Jordanian, Qatari, Turkish leaders denounce Israel's West Bank, Gaza policies at UNGA

Iran allegedly prepares to strike back at US targets • Iranian airlines cut off from global system • UK commits air defenses to Saudi Arabia

|ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF

IDF reportedly raids several areas in West Bank after one killed in Neveh Tzuf terror attack

Trump calls off planned US strikes on Houthis at last minute after Saudi plea • Iran says it has new targets, weapons ready if US launches new attack, Fars news says

SEPTEMBER 21, 2026ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF
Israeli soldiers and police officers near the scene of a shooting attack at a spring near the Israeli settlement of Neve Tzuf in the West Bank, where an Israeli man was shot by a Palestinian terrorist and later died of his wounds, September 20, 2026.

IDF reportedly raids several areas in West Bank after one killed in Neveh Tzuf terror attack

Trump calls off planned US strikes on Houthis at last minute after Saudi plea • Iran says it has new targets, weapons ready if US launches new attack, Fars news says

SEPTEMBER 20, 2026ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF
Israeli soldiers and police officers near the scene of a shooting attack at a spring near the Israeli settlement of Neve Tzuf in the West Bank, where an Israeli man was shot by a Palestinian terrorist and later died of his wounds, September 20, 2026.

Turkey says it could help meet Saudi military needs under defense pact

Pakistan has said that there were no discussions about a military reaction from Islamabad under the Mecca agreement in response to the Houthis' attacks on Saudi Arabia.

SEPTEMBER 19, 2026ByREUTERS
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan talks during a press conference following the first committee meeting under the joint defense accord, the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement, in Istanbul, Turkey, August 31, 2026.

Is the Saudi defense pact misunderstood amid Houthi attacks? - analysis

The concept behind the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement seems more about starting a process than enabling these countries to rapidly deploy to any of their partners' homelands.

SEPTEMBER 17, 2026BySETH J. FRANTZMAN
TURKISH PRESIDENT Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and Pakistan’s Prime Minister, Shehbaz Sharif, pose after signing a joint defense agreement in Mecca, August 7, 2026.

Houthi Red Sea advance, drone strikes leave Saudi Arabia isolated in major conflict - analysis

Houthi Red Sea offensive leaves Riyadh isolated

SEPTEMBER 16, 2026BySETH J. FRANTZMAN
Iran-aligned Houthi fighters occupy a firing position in a screengrab from a video said to show Houthi fighters attacking Saudi-backed forces in the location given by the source as al Jawf governorate, Yemen.

Iran tried to intimidate Saudi Arabia - it may have made Riyadh more powerful instead - opinion

Iran can make the Strait of Hormuz more dangerous, push oil prices higher, and pressure US President Donald Trump through American gas prices. But Tehran’s ability to profit has been crippled.

SEPTEMBER 14, 2026ByLIRON ROSE, AMIT SHABI
IRAN’S PRESIDENT Masoud Pezeshkian meets with Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman in Tehran in April. Most Arab rulers oppose Iran’s turning into a nuclear power, the writer states.

Houthi attack on Saudi Arabia is a test of new Saudi-Turkey-Pakistan pact - analysis

Now there are questions about whether Pakistan or Turkey will respond to the Houthi attacks. Both Pakistan and Turkey have been wary of any conflict with Iran.

SEPTEMBER 9, 2026BySETH J. FRANTZMAN
Houthi strike on Saudi forces.

India confronts a new regional security equation as Mecca pact takes shape - analysis

Kuwait invoked the UN Charter’s self-defense provision after Iranian attacks, while the Mecca alliance’s mutual-defense clause has not been publicly tested

SEPTEMBER 8, 2026ByJACOB WIRTSCHAFTER / THE MEDIA LINE
TURKISH PRESIDENT Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and Pakistan’s Prime Minister, Shehbaz Sharif, pose after signing a joint defense agreement in Mecca, August 7, 2026.

Turkish FM calls Netanyahu 'enemy of humanity,' claims Mecca agreement not directed at any country

"The Mecca Joint Defense Agreement is not directed against a specific country," Fidan said, adding that the member states are considering establishing a mechanism to add new members.

AUGUST 31, 2026ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF, REUTERS
Turkey's Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Pakistan's Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, and other officials pose before the first committee meeting for the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement, in Istanbul, Turkey, August 31, 2026.

Regional geopolitical shifts felt as Mecca agreement, Israel-Greek pacts develop - analysis

The two events happening on the same day are a coincidence, because both have been in the works for some time. However, it is symbolic of how the Middle East is being reshaped.

AUGUST 31, 2026BySETH J. FRANTZMAN
Turkey's Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar, and Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud prepare to pose for a picture before the first committee meeting under the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement.