Turkiye, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia set out defence pact mechanisms after Mecca agreement
Turkiye has outlined the practical mechanisms of a new defence pact with Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, saying the three countries will establish senior political and military coordination under the agreement. The announcement came at a weekly briefing in Ankara on Thursday, a week after the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement was signed on August 7. The ministry said the arrangement is intended to place defence and military ties on a more institutional and sustainable footing.According to the Turkish defence ministry, the pact will bring together defence ministers, foreign ministers and chiefs of general staff or armed forces commanders. It said coordination... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 13 Aug 2026 14:30 LONDON
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Iran reacts cautiously as Mecca defence pact expands to include Turkiye
Iran has responded cautiously to a new mutual defence pact signed in Mecca by Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkiye, with officials stressing Muslim unity and a reduced reliance on the United States. The agreement says an armed attack on one of the three countries will be treated as an attack on all, raising questions about how the arrangement could affect regional security. Iranian officials have not described the pact as an immediate threat, but the development has drawn attention in Tehran because of its possible longer-term implications.Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Friday that when Muslims stand together, they... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 09 Aug 2026 20:31 LONDON
Saudi intelligence chief meets Iraqi prime minister in Baghdad amid tensions after deadly strikes
Saudi Arabia's intelligence chief, Khalid bin Ali Al Humaidan, has met Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi in Baghdad in an effort to ease tensions between the two governments. The meeting came after weeks of strain following deadly cross-border strikes on Iraq. During the talks, Al Humaidan renewed an invitation for al-Zaidi to visit Riyadh.According to the Iraqi prime minister's office, the meeting took place on Friday and focused on how Baghdad and Riyadh can improve coordination on security issues as regional tensions continue. Al-Zaidi had previously cancelled an earlier trip to Saudi Arabia after the July 29 strikes. Those attacks... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 08 Aug 2026 05:30 LONDON
Houthis kill at least 58 Yemeni government troops in Marib and Hadramawt as spillover hits Saudi Arabia
At least 58 members of Yemen's internationally recognised government forces were killed in Houthi missile and drone attacks on military sites in Marib and Hadramawt, according to a military source. The strikes hit troop camps in the al-Ruwaik area of Marib province and in the Al-Abr and Al-Wadiah areas of Hadramawt, near the border with Saudi Arabia. The attacks also caused cross-border injuries in Saudi Arabia, widening the immediate impact of the escalation.A military source said dozens more troops were injured, while earlier medical sources had put the death toll at 38 before the figure was revised upward. Houthi military... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 07 Aug 2026 06:59 LONDON
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Saudi Arabia names commander for new maritime defence coalition
Saudi Arabia has appointed Rear Admiral Abdullah bin Salem Al-Shehri to lead a new multinational maritime defence coalition focused on protecting navigation through the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. The announcement marks the first command appointment since the coalition was formed on July 30. The move signals that the group is now shifting from its launch phase into planning and coordination.The Saudi Ministry of Defence said Al-Shehri will oversee joint naval defence, coordinate with member states and work with other maritime coalitions under the alliance charter. The ministry said the coalition is intended to... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 06 Aug 2026 17:07 LONDON
