Members of the Makkah Defence Alliance have agreed to begin the practical implementation of their collective defence commitments and take measures to provide agreed military forces and capabilities for rapid deployment in Saudi Arabia.
The decision came during a meeting of the alliance in Riyadh, where members reviewed the Houthi attacks on the Kingdom and reaffirmed their commitment to collective defence.
According to the Foreign Office (FO), the committee decided to take necessary measures for the rapid deployment of the forces and capabilities in Saudi Arabia in line with approved arrangements and the national legislation of the member countries.
The members said that the security of each member formed an integral part of the collective security of the three countries.
They stated that putting the Makkah defence pact into practical measures demonstrated their commitment to collective defence, strengthened deterrence and reaffirmed their unity in defending their security, sovereignty and territorial integrity under the agreement.
The members also condemned attempts to target Makkah and Madinah, along with continued attacks on cities and civilian and economic facilities in Saudi Arabia. They reaffirmed their rejection of any attack or threat against the Kingdom’s security and territorial integrity.
As part of the alliance’s institutional development, the committee appointed retired Lt Gen Nauman Mahmood as its first secretary general for a three-year term.
Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) Foreign Minister (FM) Ishaq Dar, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif and army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir represented Pakistan at the Riyadh meeting.
The alliance’s announcement came as Yemen’s Saudi-backed government claimed to have recaptured the key Red Sea port of Mocha as part of an offensive aimed at regaining control of the Bab al-Mandeb Strait.
Yemeni government forces advanced along the coast with Saudi air support and seized positions in the Dhubab area, located at the narrowest point of the strait. Military spokesman Lt Col Majid Abdullah al-Nuzayli said that the forces had taken control of Bab al-Mandeb, Dhubab airport and the road connecting Dhubab with Mocha.
He stated that hundreds of Houthi fighters had been surrounded in Dhubab, while some later fled by boat.
Saudi Arabia, who arms and trains Yemeni government forces, has backed the offensive with air power and sought logistical support from allies to push back the Houthis, restore traffic in the Red Sea and stop attacks on its territory.
On Monday, Saudi-led coalition spokesman Major Gen Turki al-Maliki said 100 fighter jets had taken part at dawn in Operation “Dawn of Yemen”, the name given to the new operation.
