Saudi Arabia activates Mecca defense pact after airport attacks

Attacks on two Saudi airports wounded three people and prompted Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Turkey to begin implementing their joint defense agreement.

• The Saudi civil aviation authority said attacks on Jazan and Najran international airports on Monday caused three minor injuries and material damage.
• Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Turkey announced the transition to practical implementation of the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement after an emergency committee meeting in Riyadh.
• The joint statement said agreed military forces and capabilities would be rapidly deployed in Saudi Arabia under collective deterrence.
• The committee appointed retired Pakistani Lieutenant General Nauman Mahmood as the pact's first secretary-general for three years.
• Khawaja Asif said Pakistani forces play a supporting reconnaissance role while Saudi forces conduct combat operations.
• Pakistan's information ministry dismissed a Reuters report of 30,000-40,000 troops as highly speculative, calling operational details classified.
• The pact's activation followed the Trump administration's decline of Saudi requests for direct US strikes, offering intelligence support instead.