Afghanistan, Sept. 19 -- On 7 August 2026, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan signed the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement, pledging that an attack on one would be treated as an attack on all.
Just over a month later, on 8 September, the Houthis put that pledge to the test. They fired ballistic missiles and drones that hit Abha, Khamis Mushait, Jazan, and Najran, damaging energy sites and injuring at least 73 people, according to the Saudi-led coalition. The Houthis also claimed to have targeted critical infrastructure, including Aramco facilities and King Khalid Air Base.
Immediately after the attack, Pakistan reaffirmed its commitment to the pact, and media reports suggested that Islamabad could carry out airstrikes on Houthi positions. By ...