Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 04:10pm on 09 Sep 2026,Wednesday International
Pakistan may activate the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement to defend Saudi Arabia against Houthi attacks, potentially conducting airstrikes against the Iran-backed group in Yemen. The agreement, signed last month, includes a collective-defence clause that Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khwaja Asif indicated could be triggered if fighting in Yemen spills into Saudi territory. Reports suggest Pakistani airstrikes on Houthi positions could take place soon and be publicly announced afterward. However, Islamabad may distinguish between defending Saudi territory and supporting a broader Saudi military offensive inside Yemen. This could make the situation the first major test of the pact’s collective-defence commitment. The potential intervention comes after Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia reportedly caused casualties and fires at oil facilities. (PC: Reuters)
