10/09/2026
The Mecca Agreement: Deterrent That Failed to Prevent Sanaa
With the escalation of military conflicts in Yemen and the spread of attacks on targets deep inside Saudi Arabia, the Mecca Defense Agreement and the possibility of its mechanisms being activated have once again been discussed.
The agreement, signed last month between Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan, commits the parties to mutual defense against external attacks. The question now is whether the escalation of Ansarullah attacks could force Riyadh to make operational use of the agreement and open the way for the other two regional military powers to enter the war in Yemen.
The reality on the ground suggests that Ansarullah has not seen this agreement as a serious obstacle to action against Saudi Arabia. Sanaa has not only not refrained from direct attacks on Saudi targets, but has also determined the timing and level of response according to its own calculations. This shows that the initiative in determining the point of escalation is still important for Sanaa.
