• French President Emmanuel Macron tells media outlets that France will send troops and defence systems to the Saudi port city of Yanbu to help protect the critical energy transport hub.
• Yemeni military spokesman says Houthi forces in the southwestern areas of Mocha and Taiz were targeted in attacks.

Saudi Arabia, Turkiye and Pakistan plan emergency military meeting over Houthi attacks

Chiefs of staff from Saudi Arabia, Turkiye and Pakistan are preparing to hold an urgent military meeting following recent Houthi attacks on the kingdom, according to a statement by the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The upcoming talks form part of the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement, which stipulates that “any attack on any party is considered an attack on all parties”.

The announcement followed a high-level meeting on Thursday at the kingdom’s Permanent Delegation to the United Nations in New York, where Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud met with Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Mohammad Ishaq Dar and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan.

During the gathering on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, the ministers strongly condemned “vicious attacks targeting Mecca as well as civilian and economic facilities in Saudi Arabia”. They praised the vigilance of the Saudi armed forces and affirmed the kingdom’s right to defend its security in accordance with “Article 51 of the United Nations Charter”.

Furthermore, the ministers discussed regional stability, emphasising the importance of international law, good neighbourliness and ensuring the freedom of maritime navigation while renewing their commitment to de-escalation and peaceful solutions.

Houthis claim attacks on Saudi military sites near Yemen’s border

The Ansar Allah group, commonly known as the Houthis, say they have attacked various military sites in Saudi Arabia. The group says it struck the al-Tuwal area of Jizan and missile sites at Al-Dagharir camp.

Saudi Arabia has not confirmed the attacks.

Qatar strongly condemns attacks by Houthis on Taif and Yanbu

Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemns “in the strongest terms the Houthi group’s launch of ballistic missiles toward the cities of Taif and Yanbu” in Saudi Arabia.

In a statement posted to X, the ministry said it “considers these aggressions a reprehensible hostile act and an unacceptable disregard for civilian lives, as well as a blatant violation of Saudi sovereignty and a clear breach of the rules of international law”.

The ministry also reiterated Qatar’s “categorical rejection of attacks on civilian infrastructure and civilians, and affirms the necessity of an immediate cessation of these irresponsible acts”.

The ministry emphasized full solidarity with Saudi Arabia, and said it stands “by its side in all legitimate measures it takes to preserve its sovereignty, security, safety of its territories, and interests, and affirms that Saudi security is an integral part of Qatar’s security and the collective security system of the Gulf Cooperation Council states for the Arab Gulf countries”.

Turkey’s chief of staff to attend meeting with Saudi and Pakistani counterparts in Riyadh

Chief of General Staff General Selcuk Bayraktaroglu will travel to Riyadh in Saudi Arabia to meet his Saudi and Pakistani counterparts as part of the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement, the Defence Ministry said on Friday.

Yesterday, the Saudi Foreign Ministry said the chiefs of staff would hold an urgent meeting to discuss ways to support the kingdom under the defence pact following attacks by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis. Ankara has said it could help meet Riyadh’s military needs if necessary.

Data show 26 ships crossed the Bab al-Mandeb strait on Thursday

According to shipping data from Kpler, the movement of ships passing through the Bab al-Mandeb strait on Thursday slightly decreased compared with Wednesday, remaining at 26 ships, with 12 entering and 14 leaving.

On Wednesday, 27 commodity vessels transited the waterway, up from 24 a day earlier, and compared with an average of 26 ships using the strait in the past 10 days, the global data intelligence company said.

Intense Yemeni warplane activity observed in skies south of Taiz

Witnesses and field sources are observing significant Yemeni warplane activity in the skies of Al Shamaitin district, south of the Taiz governorate, in the west of the country.

Pakistan’s army chief Munir expected to arrive in Saudi Arabia soon

Pakistan’s chief of defence forces, Field Marshal Asim Munir, is expected to arrive in Riyadh soon for the previously reported planned meeting with his Saudi and Turkish counterparts.

Targeting the Houthis first is ‘tricky’ for the Mecca pact’s Islamic framing

The Mecca Joint Defence Agreement’s first real test, being framed around the Houthis rather than Israel, sits awkwardly with the Islamic-solidarity language the pact was sold on, says Betul Dogan Akkas, assistant professor of international relations at Ankara University.

“The Mecca Defense Pact might be used, for the first time, to frame itself as defending the lands of Islam, rather than being framed around the Israeli threat in Gaza or Palestine, which would have been the more obvious framing,” she said.

“Using the Houthi threat as that first framing isn’t necessarily good for the pact’s long-term branding and perception,” she said.

“Even though you’re not targeting Israel or Western countries, you’re still ultimately targeting a Muslim country, a Muslim nation. That makes it a bit controversial and tricky.”

The Houthis are Zaidi Shia Muslims and backed by Iran, a dynamic which Dogan Akkas said complicates the pact’s stated openness to future members.

“Once you say the pact is open to other parties, and your first real target ends up being an Iranian proxy, what does that suggest about the pact’s future, or how it ends?” she said.

Pakistan, Turkiye to join Saudi Arabia in its war against the Houthis?

Turkey and Pakistan are rushing their military chiefs to Riyadh in response to a call from Saudi Arabia for an urgent meeting on implementing their mutual defence agreement, amid the escalating war against the Houthis in Yemen that has spilled over into Saudi territory.

Turkey’s Defense Ministry confirmed on Friday that General Selcuk Bayraktaroglu, the chief of general staff, will be travelling to Saudi Arabia.

Pakistan’s chief of defense forces, Field Marshal Asim Munir, is also expected to arrive in the Saudi capital soon.

The developments follow a Saudi request to Turkey and Pakistan for their military chiefs to convene, following weeks of Houthi missile and drone attacks on Saudi territory.

The Mecca Joint Defense Agreement, signed on August 7, treats an attack on any one of Saudi Arabia, Turkiye and Pakistan as an attack on all three.

Saudi Arabia’s account of the days before Friday’s meeting showed how urgently Riyadh sees the crisis.

Yemeni government forces announce capture of Mount Numan in Lahij

Forces loyal to the Yemeni government have announced the capture of the summit of the strategic Mount Numan and the Dar al-Kafir area in Lahij province.

According to a statement from the forces, a rapid military operation was launched overnight targeting the summit of Mount Numan, which overlooks the al-Waziiyah and al-Madaribah districts in the southern province of Lahij, as well as the Dar al-Kafir area.

The operation began with a controlled infiltration manoeuvre that led to the encirclement of the area, followed by an advance into the positions during the morning hours, the statement said.

Houthi-affiliated elements were forced to retreat, leaving behind casualties as well as weapons and ammunition, it added.

Egypt’s Sisi speaks with Yemeni leadership council head

Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi has spoken by phone with the head of Yemen’s Saudi-backed Presidential Leadership Council, Rashad al-Alimi, about the latest developments in Yemen and efforts to restore stability there, according to the Egyptian presidency.

El-Sisi reiterated Egypt’s continuing support for Yemen and stressed the need to preserve the unity of the Yemeni state and its institutions, said the Egyptian presidency.

UN Security Council condemns Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia

The UN Security Council has condemned escalating Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, a statement says.

“Members of the Security Council condemned, in the strongest terms, continued Houthi attacks against the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, including attacks impacting civilian and energy infrastructure, which have resulted in the injury of civilians, including women and children,” said the rotating president of the council, French UN envoy Jerome Bonnafont, delivering a joint statement.

The cross-border attacks by the group have coincided with some of the heaviest fighting inside Yemen since hostilities resumed.

UN refugees commissioner says ‘more crossings under way’, as Yemen conflict escalates

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees Barham Saleh has said, “more crossings are under way”, as thousands of people have fled the conflict in Yemen to Djibouti and other destinations.

Saleh said in a briefing to the UN Security Council that tens of thousands of people have already been displaced by the recent escalation in Yemen.

The UN refugee agency has declared a “level 1” emergency for Yemen, Djibouti, and Somalia in response to the rising displacement due to the Yemeni conflict.

The commissioner also reiterated the UN call for the release of UN personnel and other humanitarian workers detained by the Houthis.

Response to attack on Mecca pact member depends on ‘request and needs’, says Erdogan

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says that the response to an attack on countries in the Mecca defence pact would be decided based on the “request and needs” of the country under attack.

Support for countries in the pact could include “intelligence, logistical, or ammunition assistance”, Erdogan said in an interview with US media organisation Newsweek.

“More advanced military support could also be considered depending on the scale of the threat,” the Turkish president added.

Saudi Arabia, Turkiye and Pakistan signed a mutual defence pact in Mecca in August. Saudi Arabia in subsequent weeks has been the target of missile and drone attacks from the Iran-backed Houthis as the conflict in Yemen continues to escalate.

“It would not be right at this stage to envisage an automatic military response scenario for every incident that may occur in Iraq, Yemen or elsewhere,” Erdogan said.

Leadership council president calls on Yemenis to mobilize, offers amnesty to Houthi defectors

President of Yemen’s Leadership Council Rashid al-Alimi has called on Yemenis to mobilize and join the armed forces.

Al-Alimi also offered a general amnesty to Houthi fighters and affiliates who leave the group.

“Anyone who leaves the Houthi militia and stops fighting alongside it will be granted a comprehensive amnesty,” said al-Alimi in a video statement.

UN chief voices ‘deep concern’ over escalation in Yemen

UN Secretary-General António Guterres met with Abdullah Al-Alimi Bawazir, Vice President of Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council, to discuss the political, humanitarian and economic situation in Yemen, according to a statement from the Secretary-General’s office.

Guterres expressed “deep concern” about the recent escalation in and around Yemen, and called for the “immediate and unconditional release” of UN and other personnel continuing to be “arbitrarily detained” by the Houthis.

Pakistani PM condemns Houthi attacks against Saudi Arabia

Continuing his address to the UNGA, Pakistan’s PM Sharif said his country stands in solidarity with Saudi Arabia and condemns “deplorable attacks by the Houthis” against it.

Sharif singled out a Houthi attack Riyadh claims targeted the holy city of Mecca, saying it had “outraged Muslims across the globe”.

“No Muslim can ever dare to think of committing such a heinous crime,” said Sharif. “Pakistan stands in complete solidarity with the brotherly people of Saudi Arabia, as we always have throughout our history.”

The Houthis have denied targeting Mecca, calling it a “heinous lie”.

Mecca pact nations reaffirm commitment to defence of Saudi Arabia in meeting

Army chiefs from member countries of the Mecca Pact have met in Saudi Arabia, Saudi, Pakistani and Turkish statements say.

Pakistan’s Chief of Defense Forces Asem Munir, Saudi Chief of General Staff Fayyad al-Ruwaili, and Turkish Chief of General Staff Selcuk Bayraktaroglu participated in the meeting that reviewed “the threats facing Saudi Arabia,” according to the Saudi Defence Ministry.

The participants “strongly reaffirmed their commitment to collective defense, underscoring the determination of the three nations to defend the security, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of Saudi Arabia,” read the Saudi statement.

The military chiefs condemned the attacks targeting the city of Mecca and Saudi civil and economic infrastructure, and, according to a Pakistani statement, vowed to “translate Mecca defense pact commitments into effective cooperation.”

The participants discussed “enhancing intelligence sharing, military coordination, and capability integration,” the Pakistani army said.

The meeting follows a Saudi request to Turkey and Pakistan for their military chiefs to convene, after weeks of Houthi missile and drone attacks on Saudi territory.

Saudi Civil Defence says danger has passed in Jazan

Saudi Arabia’s Civil Defence says the danger has passed in Jazan Province, minutes after the National Early Warning Platform issued an alert warning residents of a potential threat.

Authorities urged people to continue following Civil Defence instructions and to avoid gathering or filming.