Saudi Arabia is on high alert following the attacks by Yemen’s Houthis, with Riyadh activating its trilateral defense cooperation with Turkey and Pakistan. The chiefs of the national defense staffs of the three countries are expected to attend an emergency meeting to discuss ways to support the kingdom, while Saudi Arabia’s Grand Mufti called on the armed forces to be prepared even to make sacrifices in the conflict with the pro-Iranian Ansar Allah movement.
The chiefs of the national defense staffs of Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan will hold an emergency meeting to discuss strengthening Riyadh’s defenses.
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
The meeting is taking place within the framework of a trilateral defense agreement, following attacks by the Yemeni Ansar Allah movement—more widely known as the Houthis—which is aligned with Iran.
The Saudi Arabian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced the convening of the meeting, but did not provide further details on the content of the discussions or the measures under consideration.
SEE ALSO: Situation Escalates in the Middle East: Houthis Launch Missile Attacks on Riyadh and Aramco Facilities in the Port of Yanbu
Grand Mufti Calls for “Sacrifice” Against the Houthis
At the same time, in a rare and particularly forceful statement, the most prominent religious representative of Wahhabi Islam in Saudi Arabia called on the kingdom’s military to be prepared to sacrifice even their lives in the conflict with the Houthis.
Grand Mufti Sheikh Saleh bin Fawzan al-Fawzan addressed the message to officers of the armed forces serving in areas near the border with Yemen, citing verses from the Quran and sayings attributed to the Prophet Muhammad regarding sacrifice and the struggle to defend the faith.
“The defense of this great nation (…) and the punishment of anyone who lays a hand on even one centimeter of its territory are among the most important duties and the most virtuous acts of devotion,” he said.
He added that “lives may be sacrificed” to “please God,” while calling on God to grant support to the Saudi forces.
The possibility of a ground operation is on the table
Recent developments have heightened questions about whether Riyadh is considering a broader military response, including a ground operation in Yemen, in cooperation with the forces of the country’s internationally recognized government, which it supports.
The Grand Mufti described the restoration of the Yemeni government’s authority as one of the most important obligations, while calling for “the complete defeat” of Ansar Allah and those who support it.
Riyadh’s Accusations and the Houthis’ Response
Tensions between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis have escalated recently.
Saudi Arabian state television has repeatedly broadcast footage of an attack on a mosque in the southern part of the country, which it attributed to the Houthi movement.
At the same time, Riyadh recently accused Ansar Allah of attempting to attack Mecca, Islam’s holiest site, a charge that the Yemeni movement has denied.
The Houthis, who are backed by Iran, have been a major source of instability in the region in recent years, with the conflict in Yemen remaining one of the most significant fronts in the confrontation between Tehran and Riyadh.
Source: Proto Thema
