Turkey signals military support for Saudi Arabia

Ankara's Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has indicated Turkey's readiness to provide technical military aid to Saudi Arabia in response to attacks by Iran-backed Houthi militants in Yemen. This response aligns with the Mecca Defence Alliance established last month. "There may be military needs, particularly in certain technical areas, and we would have no problem meeting them," Fidan stated in an NTV interview on Saturday.

Pakistan, the third member of the alliance, has also committed to supporting Saudi Arabia with military assistance.

Saudi Arabia is increasingly entangled in the regional repercussions of its conflict with Iran, facing relentless assaults as Houthi militants in Yemen target major cities and energy facilities. In a recent incident, Riyadh successfully intercepted a ballistic missile aimed at the capital and thwarted separate Houthi strikes on civilian locations.

These acts of aggression are testing the new defense pact that ties Saudi Arabia with Turkey and Pakistan, both close allies of the United States, as the two nations pledge support for Riyadh without committing to a broader military involvement.