Syria weighs joining Saudi-led Mecca defence pact, foreign minister says

Summary

Syria is considering whether to join the Mecca defence pact, which Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan signed in Mecca in August and under which an attack on one member is treated as an attack on all three. Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani said on Saturday, speaking at the Manama Dialogue conference in Bahrain, that discussions are underway to evaluate Syria's entry into the alliance. The move comes as Saudi Arabia faces heavy attacks from Yemen's Houthis, including a major strike this month that shut Riyadh's international airport for two weeks. On Friday, the Saudi-led coalition fighting in Yemen said it had intercepted Houthi drones over the Mecca and Medina regions, a claim the Houthis denied. Earlier this month, French President Emmanuel Macron visited Riyadh and said France had sent troops to help protect a key Saudi oil terminal from Houthi attacks, and Britain announced in October that it would deploy fighter jets to help the kingdom counter the attacks.

Timeline

1. Al Jazeera

   31 Oct 2026, 14:20 UTCSource ↗

   Reports that Damascus is evaluating whether to join the alliance that binds Turkiye, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan.

2. Middle East Eye

   31 Oct 2026, 20:41 UTCSource ↗

   Reports that Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani said on Saturday at the Manama Dialogue in Bahrain that discussions are underway to evaluate Syria's entry into the Mecca alliance.