RIYADH, Oct 8, 2026 - In a historic first for the Islamic world, the Mecca Joint Defence Pact signed between Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan has been officially activated. The emergency activation comes after Iran-backed Houthi rebels from Yemen intensified missile and drone attacks on Saudi Arabia, including attempts to target the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah and critical infrastructure like airports. On Tuesday, debris from an intercepted missile damaged a nursery and medical clinic complex in Riyadh. An emergency meeting was held in Riyadh on October 5, attended by Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Defence Minister Yasar Guler, and top officials from Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. The meeting decided to invoke Clause 5 of the Mecca Pact, which states that an attack on one of the three nations will be considered an attack on all three. Turkey Clarifies Its Role: Speaking on Wednesday, Oct 8, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan clarified, "This is not an offensive agreement. Turkey will not send troops into another country's territory for offensive operations. We are sending mainly defensive and technical support to help Saudi Arabia defend itself." According to officials, Turkey and Pakistan will provide air defence systems, technical support and rapid deployment forces inside Saudi Arabia. Why This Pact Matters: This is being called the most powerful Islamic military alliance in recent history because it brings together: • Pakistan - The Islamic world's only nuclear-armed state • Turkey - NATO's second-largest military • Saudi Arabia - The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques The Arab League has strongly condemned the Houthi attacks, stating that "any threat to the security and sanctity of the Islamic holy sites constitutes a grave transgression and a provocation to the feelings of Muslims around the world.