Saudi Arabia changes family visa rules

Turkey and Pakistan have pledged to deploy troops rapidly to Saudi Arabia as part of a new mutual defense pact, according to a statement released on Monday. The three nations signed the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement in August, vowing to support one another if attacked. Although the Houthis, a Yemeni group backed by Iran, are not explicitly named, recent attacks on Saudi Arabia's holy cities of Mecca and Medina have prompted the agreement.

During an emergency meeting in Riyadh, the representatives of the three countries emphasized their firm stance against any attack or threat against Saudi Arabia's security and territorial integrity. They also agreed to promptly implement collective defense commitments and deploy the necessary military forces and capabilities to Saudi Arabia.

The statement did not specify the exact role the troops would play once stationed in Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia has faced continuous Houthi attacks since the outbreak of Yemen's civil war in July, targeting its cities, oil infrastructure, and vessels. In September, the Houthis launched a new offensive, seizing large areas from Yemen's internationally recognized government.

The Yemeni government launched a counteroffensive with Saudi support on Monday, aiming to reclaim all Houthi territory, some of which has been under their control for over a decade.