Turkiye offers military support to Saudi Arabia following Houthi missile strikes on Riyadh and Yanbu

Ankara offers technical military support

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan announced on Saturday that Turkiye is prepared to meet Saudi Arabia's military requirements following missile and drone strikes launched by Yemen's Houthi movement. Speaking on Turkish broadcaster NTV, Fidan said that Saudi Arabia's territorial integrity and sovereignty were facing severe attacks, and noted that Ankara would have no difficulty delivering assistance, particularly on technical matters. The announcement follows the trilateral Mecca Joint Defence Agreement signed by Saudi Arabia, Turkiye, and Pakistan, which establishes that an armed attack on one signatory constitutes an attack on all three. Fidan stated that members of the alliance are monitoring developments and holding non-public discussions to assess support options for Riyadh.

“We see there are very serious attacks on Saudi Arabia's territorial integrity, sovereignty.”

Houthi strikes target Riyadh and Yanbu

The offer follows attacks on Saturday, 19 September, when Houthi forces launched ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and drones against targets across Saudi Arabia. Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree said the group conducted two operations, aiming at sensitive sites in Riyadh and Aramco facilities at the Red Sea port of Yanbu. The Saudi-led coalition reported that its air defence systems intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile over the capital, alongside attacks targeting civilian infrastructure in western Saudi cities. Residents in Riyadh reported hearing two loud explosions across parts of the city during the strikes. Following the incidents, the US State Department issued a travel advisory urging American citizens outside the Middle East to reconsider travel to and through the region.

“The first operation targeted sensitive points in the Saudi capital Riyadh, while the second operation targeted Aramco facilities in Yanbu.”

Mecca Defence Alliance faces initial test

The mutual defence arrangement dates to 7 August 2026, when Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif signed the original pact in Mecca. On 31 August, delegates meeting in Istanbul formally named the grouping the Mecca Defence Alliance and agreed to establish a permanent secretariat in Riyadh, led initially by a Pakistani secretary-general. Pakistan has also confirmed its commitment to Riyadh, with military spokesperson Lieutenant-General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry stating on 17 September that Islamabad would defend Saudi Arabia to any extent. The Pakistani Foreign Office noted that while no joint deployment is currently being deliberated under the pact, Islamabad will act when required.

Energy transit risks and regional conflict

The strikes on Saudi oil infrastructure and Red Sea shipping routes follow months of heightened regional tension stemming from the US-Israeli war with Iran that began in February 2026. The Houthi movement has consolidated control over portions of the Yemeni coastline and the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, applying pressure on maritime transit. The Red Sea serves as an alternate export route for Saudi crude oil while operations through the Strait of Hormuz face blockades. Fidan remarked during his interview that the economic fallout from maritime disruptions has exceeded manageable levels, noting that diplomatic proposals have been conveyed to participants in an attempt to halt the fighting.