Turkey assesses defensive support for Saudi Arabia amid Houthi attacks

Turkey is evaluating potential defensive support for Saudi Arabia following a series of attacks by Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi rebels, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan announced on Thursday. Speaking alongside Hungarian Foreign Minister Anita Orban, Fidan detailed that Turkey and Pakistan are assessing their capabilities, specifically in areas such as air defense, electronic warfare, and technical assistance, within the framework of their Mecca Joint Defence Agreement with Saudi Arabia.

The agreement, signed in August, stipulates that an armed attack on one member is considered an attack on all three nations. While Turkey has ruled out participating in offensive operations, the focus is on bolstering Saudi Arabia's defensive measures should the need arise. Fidan emphasized that the agreement is defensive in nature and that Turkey will not deploy troops to Saudi territory.

The assessment process involves military delegations evaluating Saudi Arabia's operational defense needs, leading to the determination of possible contributions Turkey and Pakistan can provide. The situation in Saudi Arabia remains tense, with ongoing Houthi missile strikes reported, including launches towards Riyadh. The Saudi-led coalition has claimed it intercepted several ballistic missiles targeting the capital, while the Houthis have threatened personnel to vacate Saudi oil facilities and claimed responsibility for an assault on King Khalid International Airport.