Saudi Arabia's Mecca Pact Faces First Major Test Amid Escalating Middle East Conflict

The ongoing war in the Middle East has taken a dramatic turn as Saudi Arabia's new defense pact, dubbed the 'Mecca pact,' faces its first major test. The conflict between Iran and the US has widened into Lebanon, where Iran's Hezbollah ally has been locked in confrontation with expansionist Israel, causing significant damage to the country and its people.

The Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen have also escalated their military campaign against Saudi-backed forces, making strategic territorial gains in recent weeks. They occupy a large chunk of western Yemen and a sliver of southern Yemen, including the capital Sana'a. Their territory borders the strategic Strait of Bab al-Mandeb on the Red Sea, which is a crucial conduit for 10-12% of global maritime trade.

The Houthis have tightened their grip on traffic through the strait, targeting Saudi ships and attacking Saudi oil and infrastructural facilities. This has resulted in damage to the Abqaiq fields' pipeline, which carries up to 70% of Saudi oil exports from the Eastern province to Yanbu on the Red Sea for export. The repair may take weeks, pushing up global oil prices and having a massive impact on the world economy.