Turkey and Pakistan announced on Tuesday that they will deploy military forces to Saudi Arabia under a mutual defence pact signed with the kingdom, following a series of attacks by Yemen's Houthi rebels.
Saudi Arabia has come under sustained attack from the Houthi movement in Yemen, prompting the activation of defence mechanisms agreed between the three countries.
The Saudi defence minister said the committee overseeing the Mecca Pact had decided to proceed with the necessary steps to ensure the rapid deployment of military forces to Saudi territory.
Pact signed before attacks
Turkey, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia signed the Mecca Pact in August, just weeks before the Houthi attacks against the kingdom, which have been linked to the broader conflict involving Iran.
The agreement includes a collective defence clause similar to NATO's Article 5, under which an attack against one member is considered an attack against all.
Collective response
The deployment marks the first major implementation of the pact's mutual defence provisions.
Saudi authorities said the decision was taken in response to the deteriorating security situation and the need to strengthen the kingdom's defensive capabilities following the recent attacks.
Further details regarding the size, composition and timeline of the Turkish and Pakistani deployments were not immediately announced.
Source: CNA
