Houthi Missile Attacks on Saudi Arabia, Mecca Pact Tested and Pakistan Troop Dilemma
Saudi Arabia faces severe security challenges following consecutive missile and drone strikes targeting its oil refineries, pipelines, and airports in Riyadh and Dammam. With northern Yemen guerrillas controlling Yemen's coastline and dominating the Bab-el-Mandeb strait, Saudi oil exports and airspace face disruption. Despite the defensive Mecca Agreement signed between Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Türkiye, allies appear reluctant to commit ground forces. Pakistan contends with internal security unrest across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, complicating troop deployment requests. Existing air defence networks struggle against sustained strikes, raising questions regarding potential American intervention and coalition escalation.