Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey plan urgent military meeting as Grand Mufti calls on troops to fight Houthis

Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Turkey are convening an emergency meeting of their military chiefs to discuss bolstering Saudi Arabia's defense, following a call from the Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia for troops to remain on high alert against the Iran-backed Houthis. The meeting is set to take place at the kingdom's permanent mission to the United Nations in New York.

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan held discussions with Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar, and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, to explore support for Saudi Arabia under the Makkah Defence Agreement. This agreement stipulates that an attack on one party is considered an attack on all members.

The ministers vehemently condemned attacks on the holy city of Makkah and civilian, as well as economic targets in Saudi Arabia, and commended the Saudi armed forces for their swift response. Grand Mufti Sheikh Saleh bin Fawzan, in a rare address, urged soldiers on the front lines to "remain permanently prepared to carry out" their duties, emphasizing the importance of protecting the nation's borders and averting aggression.

The Saudi-led coalition reported intercepting and neutralizing six ballistic missiles launched by the Houthis, while air defenses successfully thwarted attempts to hit the cities of Taif and Yanbu.