Pakistan and Türkiye have agreed to provide military forces and capabilities and ensure their rapid deployment to Saudi Arabia under their commitments to the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement, the three countries said on Monday, as Yemen's government forces stepped up an offensive against the Houthis and claimed to have retaken the strategic Bab al-Mandab Strait.

The agreement was announced after an emergency meeting of the Strategic Political and Defense Committee of the Mecca alliance in Riyadh to discuss security threats facing Saudi Arabia, according to a joint statement issued by the Saudi Ministry of Defense.

The three countries strongly condemned what they described as attempts to target the holy cities of Mecca and Medina, as well as continued attacks on Saudi cities and civilian and economic infrastructure.

They reaffirmed that the security of each country is an integral part of the collective security of all three, saying that translating the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement into concrete measures would strengthen deterrence, military readiness and defense integration.

Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Türkiye signed the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement in Mecca on August 7. The agreement stipulates that an attack on any one of the signatories would be considered an attack on all three.

Saudi Arabia and the Houthis have been in conflict since the group seized Yemen's capital, Sanaa, in 2014. The latest escalation began in mid-2026, when fighting between the Houthis and Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces resumed after several years of relative calm. Tensions further intensified in July, when the Houthis declared a maritime blockade against Saudi Arabia and began targeting Saudi-linked shipping. 

The announcement comes amid intensifying fighting in Yemen. In recent weeks, the Houthis have expanded their territorial control along Yemen's Red Sea coast, prompting Saudi-backed government forces to launch a major offensive to retake the areas. 

On October 4, Rashad Al-Alimi, chairman of Yemen's Presidential Leadership Council, announced in Riyadh the launch of a military operation to retake areas recently seized by the Houthis.

Yemeni government forces said on Monday that they had taken control of the Bab al-Mandab Strait and Zubab Airport in western Taizz province. The Houthis disputed the claim, however, saying that fighting for control of the strategic waterway was still ongoing.

Yemeni government forces spokesman Majed Al-Nuzaili said the forces had launched a large-scale operation, dubbed "Dawn of Yemen," targeting Houthi fighters and military capabilities. He said forces on Monday secured control of the Bab al-Mandab Strait, cut the road between Zubab and the coastal port of Mokha, and established fire control over the route.

Al-Nuzaili said hundreds of Houthi fighters remained surrounded in the Zubab area and had been urged to surrender. Some Houthi fighters had reportedly fled by sea, he added, saying the operation would continue until its objectives were achieved.

Turki Al-Maliki, spokesman for the Saudi-led coalition, said on social media on Monday that 100 coalition fighter jets had taken part in the operation early that morning, striking 324 "high-value targets." He said the coalition was providing air cover over the Bab al-Mandab Strait and continuing to target mobile forces, while providing round-the-clock air support for the ground operations of Yemeni government forces.

Al-Masirah TV, a Houthi-run outlet, quoted a Houthi military source as denying that government forces had made gains in the Zubab area, calling the reports "completely untrue." Houthi sources also said fighting for control of the Bab al-Mandab Strait was continuing.

(With input from agencies)