Saudi, Pakistani and Turkish Military Officials Meet in Riyadh, Agree Response Stays Inside Saudi Territory

Senior Pakistani and Turkish military representatives meet Saudi officials in Riyadh to coordinate a response to the Houthi escalation, Reuters reports. The three sides agree their forces will not enter Yemeni territory and that any military response will be launched from within Saudi Arabia; no decision is made on whether Pakistani forces will take part in retaliatory strikes, with Islamabad's obligations under the pact described as limited to protecting Saudi territory rather than combat operations abroad. Defence Minister Khawaja Asif reiterates that "an aggression on one country will be considered an aggression on all three countries." It is the first concrete military-coordination step taken under the Mecca pact since its Aug 7 signing.