'Mecca Alliance' announces activation of collective deterrence

Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Turkey announced their transition to the practical implementation phase of the Mecca Agreement for Joint Defense, during an emergency meeting of the Political and Defense Strategic Committee of the Mecca Defense Alliance held in Riyadh yesterday. The meeting was dedicated to discussing security developments and threats targeting the Kingdom.

In a joint statement, the three countries reaffirmed their firm commitment to joint defense and enhancing military coordination to address security challenges and safeguard regional stability. They strongly condemned attempts to target Mecca and Medina, as well as the continued attacks on cities and civilian and economic facilities in the Kingdom, emphasizing their unequivocal rejection of any aggression or threat to the Kingdom’s security and territorial integrity.

For his part, Rashad al-Alimi, Chairman of the Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council, announced yesterday the launch of the “Yemen Dawn” operation to liberate the capital, Sana’a, from the Iran-backed Houthi militia. The operation is supported by air strikes from the Saudi-led Coalition for Supporting Legitimacy in Yemen. This announcement coincided with reports of government forces making advances on multiple fronts and recapturing the city of Al-Mukha and the Bab al-Mandab area along the Red Sea coast. The United States stated that these developments constitute a counteroffensive to reclaim territories seized by the Houthis.

Al-Alimi stated in a post on his official account on the “X” platform that the “Yemen Dawn” operation was launched to restore state institutions, liberate Sana’a, and end the coup carried out by the Iran-backed Houthi militia. Meanwhile, Majid Abdullah al-Nazili, an official spokesperson for the Yemeni government forces, reported on “X” that more than 1,000 strikes had been carried out against the Houthis as part of the “Yemen Dawn” operation.

He added that the armed forces had begun executing a strategic offensive on Sana’a, noting that “our armed forces carried out 1,122 precise targeting operations against artillery positions, rocket launchers, defensive fortifications, approach and push routes, supply and reinforcement lines, combat deployments, and command and control centers” in Saada, Al-Jawf, Taiz, and the coastal areas.

He also stated that government forces had taken control of the Bab al-Mandab area and the Dhul Bab airport located in western Taiz province near the Bab al-Mandab strait. Yemeni News Agency reported that military sources confirmed that “National Shield,” “Giants,” and “Thamoud Brigades” forces had captured Al-Mukha city west of Taiz.

For his part, Brigadier General Turki al-Maliki, official spokesperson for the Coalition for Supporting Legitimacy in Yemen, announced that 100 fighter jets participated in the “Yemen Dawn” operation.

In a post on his official “X” account, he stated that the Coalition had destroyed 324 high-value targets since the operation began, affirming the provision of air protection for the Bab al-Mandab strait and continuous 24-hour air support for Yemeni armed forces on the ground.

For his part, Lieutenant General Saghir bin Aziz, Chief of Staff of the General Staff and Commander of Joint Operations, confirmed that the “Yemen Dawn” operation would continue without stopping until the state is restored, Sana’a is retaken, and every inch of the Republic’s territory is cleared. He warned parents against sending their sons to the Houthi militia’s “incinerators,” urging them to protect their children, and affirmed that the fate of anyone marching with this militia is destruction.

Meanwhile, Lieutenant General Abdulrahman al-Laheji, commander of the “National Shield” forces, said: “We thank Saudi Arabia and its leadership for supporting Yemen and the Yemeni people. We congratulate our forces on their victories and call on them to continue fulfilling their duty with courage and discipline.”

He emphasized that our fight is not against the people of any region, as all Yemenis are our brothers; rather, it is to restore the state, protect civilians, and end the assault on their lives. He added, “The Houthi militia is not fighting Israel or the United States; it is fighting Yemenis in their homes.” For his part, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said, “The United States has a binding security agreement with Saudi Arabia, and we intend to honor it,” adding that “what is happening now in Yemen is a counteroffensive to reclaim territory, and we had anticipated this.”

Rubio, speaking to journalists as he departed for Iceland, noted that Saudi Arabia has been targeted by Houthi attacks and recognizes the threat they pose, and that it has the right to defend itself.

For more details:

One hundred fighter jets and round-the-clock air support from the coalition supporting legitimacy, securing air protection for the strait.. Commander of “National Shield” thanks Saudi Arabia and its leadership “Mecca Alliance”: Immediate transition to the practical implementation of mutual defense commitments.. Yemeni army reclaims Bab al-Mandab and Al-Mukha.. “Fajr al-Yemen” to liberate Sanaa

Saudi Arabia, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, and the Republic of Turkey announced their transition to the practical implementation phase of the Mecca Mutual Defense Agreement, during an emergency meeting of the Political and Defense Strategic Committee of the Mecca Defense Alliance held in Riyadh, dedicated to discussing security developments and threats targeting the Kingdom.

The three countries affirmed in a joint statement their firm commitment to mutual defense and enhancing military coordination to confront security challenges and preserve regional stability.

According to the statement, the committee decided to appoint retired Major General Noman Mahmood of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan as the first Secretary-General for a term of three years.

The contracting states strongly condemned the attempt to target Mecca and Medina, and the continued attacks targeting cities and civilian and economic facilities in the Kingdom, reiterating their firm rejection of any aggression or threat to the security and territorial integrity of the Kingdom.

Pakistan and Turkey praised the vigilance and readiness of the Saudi Armed Forces, and the professional performance and high competence demonstrated in confronting the threats and aggressions facing the Kingdom, and protecting its security and territorial integrity.

The committee reviewed the results of the political and military consultations preceding the meeting, and approved the recommendations submitted to it, affirming that the Mecca Defense Alliance embodies a firm commitment to mutual defense and a unified stance in confronting threats.

The committee decided on the immediate transition to the practical implementation of mutual defense commitments, and taking the necessary measures to provide the agreed-upon forces and military capabilities and their rapid deployment in the Kingdom, in accordance with approved arrangements and the national legislation of the contracting states, thereby enhancing readiness, military integration, and collective capacity to confront and counter threats.

The contracting states affirmed that the security of each contracting state is an integral part of the collective security of the three countries, and that translating the Mecca Mutual Defense Agreement into practical measures embodies credibility in commitment to mutual defense, enhances the effectiveness of deterrence, and confirms the unity of the three countries and their resolve to defend their security, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, in accordance with the provisions of the agreement.

For his part, His Royal Highness Prince Khalid bin Salman, Saudi Minister of Defense, announced the activation of collective deterrence against aggressions on the Kingdom and the Holy Sites within the framework of the Mecca Alliance, following an emergency meeting of alliance countries.

Earlier, Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council Chairman Rashad al-Alimi announced yesterday the launch of the “Fajr al-Yemen” operation to liberate the capital Sanaa from the Houthi terrorist militia, at a time when the Saudi-led coalition supporting legitimacy in Yemen announced providing air support to back it up, coinciding with the advance of government forces on several fronts and their control over the city of Al-Mukha and Bab al-Mandab, the Red Sea coastal strip.

Al-Alimi stated in a post published on his official account on the “X” platform that the “Fajr al-Yemen” operation has been launched to restore state institutions, liberate the capital Sanaa, and end the coup by the Iran-backed Houthi militia.

He added, “With God’s help and the will of our people, the bravery of our armed forces and all military formations, and the support of our brothers and friends, Yemen will move toward a new dawn of freedom, peace, and stability.”

For his part, Majed Abdullah al-Nazili, the official spokesperson for the Yemeni government forces, stated on the “X” platform that the armed forces have begun executing a strategic offensive on Sanaa as part of the “Fajr al-Yemen” operation.

He added, “Our armed forces carried out 1,122 precise targeting operations against artillery positions, rocket launchers, defensive fortifications, approach and reinforcement routes, supply and reinforcement lines, combat concentrations, governing bodies, and command and control centers” in Saada, Al Jawf, Taiz, and the coastal areas. He stated that government forces have taken control of the Bab al-Mandab area and the Dhu Bab airbase located in western Taiz governorate near the strait, noting that “they have cut the road between Dhubab and Al Mukha and established firm fire control over it,” following a military flanking operation involving “Giants” and “Shield of the Nation” forces.

Later, Yemen News Agency reported, citing a military source, that “Shield of the Nation,” “Giants,” and the Thamiya Brigades had taken control of the city of Al Mukha” west of Taiz. Amidst the ground military advances, Al-Ahmed affirmed that the “Yemen Dawn” operation is proceeding according to approved plans until state institutions are restored and the capital, Sanaa, is liberated.

During a series of communications with members of the Leadership Council, he considered that the successes achieved on various fronts reflect the level of preparedness and coordination between the armed forces and all military formations, and the effective support from the coalition supporting legitimacy, as reported by Al Arabiya channel.

He stressed strict adherence to the rules of law and military discipline, reiterating his call to citizens in areas forcibly controlled by the Houthi militias to avoid being drawn into their attempts to drag them into battles, and to stay away from their positions and military gatherings. He emphasized that these operations are not a war against citizens, their regions, or their affiliations, but rather a state’s battle for its citizens and for restoring its institutions.

Meanwhile, Commander of the “Shield of the Nation” forces, Major General Abdulrahman Al-Laheji, said: “We thank Saudi Arabia and its leadership for supporting Yemen and the Yemeni people, and we congratulate our forces on their victories, urging them to continue fulfilling their duty with courage and discipline.”

He affirmed that our battle is not against the people of any region, as all Yemenis are our family, but rather to restore the state, protect people, and end the aggression against their lives. He added, “The Houthi militia is not fighting Israel or America, but rather fighting Yemenis in their homes.”

For his part, the official spokesperson for the Coalition Support Forces in Yemen, Brigadier General Turki Al-Maliki, announced the participation of 100 fighter jets in the “Yemen Dawn” operation alongside the start of operations to restore state institutions and end the Houthi coup.

Al-Maliki stated in a post on his official account on the “X” platform that the coalition “has destroyed 324 high-value targets since the launch of the operation,” confirming the provision of air protection for the Bab al-Mandab strait and continued engagement with mobile targets.

He added that the coalition provides continuous 24/7 air support to back the Yemeni armed forces on the ground. In a previous statement, the coalition’s official spokesperson declared that the coalition’s Joint Forces Command continues to provide full operational support to the Yemeni armed forces and remains steadfast with the legitimate Yemeni government and people to end the coup, restore the state and its national institutions, and build Yemen’s future.

Brigadier General Al-Maliki clarified that the terrorist Houthi militia’s ongoing terrorist attacks and repeated practices against the brothers of the Yemeni people—including internal blockades, forced displacement of citizens from their cities and villages, starvation, looting, and dividing their resources for what they call the war effort, mistreatment of tribal elders and members, tearing apart the social fabric of Yemeni society across all its segments, terrorizing women, and recruiting children for their criminal project—are blatant violations that have brought calamities and suffering to Yemenis for many years.

Brigadier General Al-Malaki added that the terrorist Houthi militia’s attacks on the Kingdom, its attempts to target the holy cities of Mecca and Medina, its deliberate and systematic targeting of civilians and civilian infrastructure in several Saudi cities (Riyadh, Abha, Khamis Mushait, Jazan, Najran, Taif, and Yanbu), as well as its attempts to target Saudi vessels in the southern Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandab Strait, necessitate the continuation of the necessary and required measures to deter the hostile actions of the terrorist Houthi militia, with the aim of protecting the Kingdom’s security and sovereignty, as well as regional and international security.