Turkiye Offers Military Aid to Saudi Arabia Amid Escalating Houthi Attacks and New Defense Pact

Turkiye has announced its readiness to assist Saudi Arabia in meeting its military requirements as Riyadh faces escalating attacks from Yemen’s Houthis. This development places the recently signed Mecca defence pact under its first significant test.

Last month, Saudi Arabia, Turkiye, and Pakistan signed the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement. This pact treats an armed attack against any of the three member nations as an attack on all of them, formed amid rising regional tensions. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan stated that Saudi Arabia may require military assistance, particularly regarding technical issues, and confirmed that Ankara is prepared to provide it.

These comments follow a surge in Houthi missile and drone strikes targeting Saudi cities, energy infrastructure, and shipping routes. This escalation has further expanded a regional conflict that began with the US-Israeli war on Iran in February, simultaneously threatening global energy supplies as the Houthis tighten their grip on the Red Sea.

Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan emphasized that Turkiye condemns the Houthi attacks and calls for an immediate halt, noting that Ankara is fully prepared to offer support under the trilateral agreement. Meanwhile, analysts like Nawaf Obaid from King’s College London suggested that a coordinated military response is being prepared by Saudi Arabia and its allies, while Mohamad Elmasry from the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies noted that allies are currently offering logistical, intelligence, and weapons support without committing to direct kinetic action.

The Mecca Defence Alliance, formally established on August 31 with a secretariat in Riyadh, operates under a collective defense model akin to NATO. Pakistan has also reaffirmed its commitment to the agreement, with military and government officials stating that Islamabad stands ready to support Saudi Arabia physically and diplomatically when needed.

On the ground, coalition forces reported intercepting a ballistic missile fired toward Riyadh, alongside other thwarted attacks targeting Bisha, Taif, Farasan, and Yanbu. In Yemen, clashes continue as Saudi-backed government forces confront Houthi advances in Marib.

Meanwhile, the United States has maintained caution regarding direct military intervention. Although US President Donald Trump has avoided direct strikes, the administration has provided intelligence-sharing and targeting assistance, alongside a recently approved potential sale of F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia.