Pakistan's Defense Minister Warns of Alliance Activation Amid Yemen Conflict

Pakistan's Defense Minister Khawaja Asif warned that the trilateral Makkah defense alliance between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey could be activated if the conflict in Yemen spreads to Saudi Arabian territory.

This warning comes after a series of attacks by the Houthi rebels on Tuesday, which affected 73 people and targeted oil facilities, airports, and air bases in southern Saudi Arabia.

The defense pact, signed on August 7, provides for collective deterrence and treats an attack on one participating state as an attack on all parties to the agreement.

According to Asif, the pact is defensive rather than offensive in nature and would come into force if there's unprovoked aggression or a transfer of hostilities from Yemen to Saudi Arabia.