The Houthis fired at Mecca – and Saudi Arabia's "Mecca Alliance" with Erdogan does nothing

The Houthis from Yemen attacked areas in Mecca, Jeddah, and Taif with missiles and drones for the first time in the current round. The attacks raise questions about the validity of the "Mecca Alliance" – a defense agreement between Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan signed last month, but which has yet to translate into actual military action. Turkey and Pakistan are content with condemnations and praise for Saudi restraint.

The Houthis from Yemen attacked areas in Mecca, Jeddah, and Taif at noon (Tuesday) for the first time in the current round, triggering alerts in the most important city in Islam. The attacks come after days of Saudi strikes in Yemen and Houthi promises of retaliation, and raise questions about the validity of the "Mecca Alliance," a defense agreement signed last month between Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan, according to which an attack on one would be considered an attack on all three. In practice, Turkey and Pakistan are content with condemnations and praise for Saudi restraint. Dr. Yoel Guzansky, a senior researcher at INSS, said that the alerts in Mecca have a double symbolic significance – the holy city and the place where the alliance was signed – and that Saudi Arabia is in strategic embarrassment and a severe military failure. According to him, Israel should quietly assist Saudi Arabia, including with missile defense, without demanding normalization.