The foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Pakistan discussed arrangements for an urgent meeting of the three countries’ chiefs of staff to consider ways to support the Kingdom under the Makkah Agreement on joint defence, amid escalating Houthi attacks on Saudi territory. The ministers condemned the attacks targeting Makkah, as well as civilian and economic facilities, and affirmed Saudi Arabia’s right to defend its security.
The Makkah Agreement and the joint defence mechanism
The agreement, signed on 7 August 2026, stipulates that an attack on any party is considered an attack on all parties. The Houthis said they launched dozens of missiles and drones at Saudi targets on Thursday, while Saudi authorities announced the interception of six ballistic missiles after emergency alerts were issued covering Makkah, Jeddah and Yanbu.
Saudi Grand Mufti Sheikh Saleh Al-Fawzan called on the forces to stand firm and be prepared to sacrifice their lives in defence of the country.
Meanwhile, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said the Houthis were responsible for their actions, in an attempt to distance Tehran from the group’s activities.
