Saudi Arabia has turned to Israel for intelligence on Houthi drone attacks after Pakistan refused to commit to the Mecca Defence Alliance, a move that comes on the heels of a historic emergency alert for the holy city.
The pact, signed last month between Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey, stipulates that an attack on any member triggers a joint response. Pakistan’s Foreign Office said it would only consider strikes inside Yemen as a hypothetical scenario, citing that the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement was still being firmed up and not yet operational.
Israeli media reported that Riyadh and Tel Aviv have held talks mediated by the US Central Command (CENTCOM), with the kingdom seeking Israeli help to map Houthi deployments and anticipate future operations. Riyadh’s request focuses on intelligence rather than formal military cooperation, as the two nations have no formal ties under the Abraham Accords.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the drone attack in a post on X, praising Saudi forces but refraining from pledging direct assistance. Defence Minister Khawaja Asif warned that any Saudi attack could activate the Mecca Defence Alliance, yet he admitted uncertainty over Riyadh’s outreach to Islamabad.
Houthi spokesperson Brigadier General Yahya Saree denied the claim, labeling the allegation a fabrication aimed at undermining Saudi security. The group maintains that its operations target Saudi military and oil facilities away from Islamic holy sites.
The intelligence request has put Saudi Arabia’s trilateral pact under pressure, with CENTCOM now tasked to coordinate with Israeli analysts to assess the threat. A briefing with Israeli officials is slated next week, and the pact’s future is set to be re-evaluated amid escalating regional tensions.