Syria is considering joining a regional defense alliance with Saudi Arabia, Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani said on Saturday at the Manama Dialogue security conference in Bahrain. He said "discussions are currently underway to evaluate Syria's entry into the Mecca alliance," a mutual-defense pact signed in August by Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan. Under the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement, an armed attack on any member would be considered an attack on all, mirroring NATO's collective-defense principle. The countries agreed this month to prepare for rapid deployment of military forces to Saudi Arabia as Houthi attacks on the kingdom have intensified.
Al-Shaibani said Syria regarded the defense of Gulf Arab countries as essential to its own security. "Syria will stand beside all of the Gulf countries," he said, citing challenges from "militias that cross borders." It was unclear whether that support would extend to sending Syrian troops to Yemen. President Ahmed al-Sharaa has sought to keep Syria out of regional conflicts while rebuilding after nearly 14 years of civil war. Syrian authorities denied reports this month that Saudi Arabia had requested troop deployments, saying Damascus was focused on reconstruction.
Saudi Arabia has become a major diplomatic and economic supporter of Syria since Bashar al-Assad, whose family had been closely allied with Iran, was overthrown by rebels led by Mr. al-Sharaa. This month, Mr. al-Sharaa met with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh to discuss investment and regional security.
Fighting in Yemen has escalated this year amid the broader U.S.-Israeli war with Iran. The World Health Organization says at least 1,677 people have been killed and more than 7,300 wounded in Yemen since August, and nearly 300,000 have been displaced. In Saudi Arabia, Houthi missile and drone attacks on airports and infrastructure have killed at least 19 people, according to the Saudi-led coalition. Egypt, which is not part of the Mecca pact, this week authorized military aid to Saudi Arabia.
Source: New York Times Top Stories · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing