Mon 05 October 2026:
Pakistan’s Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has arrived in Saudi Arabia to attend a meeting of the Strategic Political and Defence Committee of the members of the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement.
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif and army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir are accompanying Dar in Monday’s talks with counterparts from Saudi Arabia and Turkiye, the Pakistani Foreign Ministry said in a statement on X.
Saudi Arabia, Turkiye and Pakistan signed the pact on August 7 to strengthen collective deterrence and expand defence cooperation.
The meeting comes a day after Yemen’s Saudi-backed government announced the launch of a major military operation against the Houthis.
According to Turkish Foreign Ministry sources, Fidan, National Defense Minister Yasar Guler and Chief of General Staff Gen. Selcuk Bayraktaroglu will also attend the committee meeting in the Saudi capital.
At the meeting, Fidan expected to reaffirm Türkiye’s strong solidarity with and support for Saudi Arabia in the face of recent Houthi attacks and underline that provocative actions targeting holy sites are unacceptable.
Fidan is also expected to highlight the alliance’s importance not only in developing a joint and effective response to existing threats but also in preventing regional crises.
Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said on Friday that “Very soon, a meeting of the whole SPDC has been agreed to in principle to take place in Riyadh.”
He also said he “sensitised” the Iranian side about the trilateral pact signed in Mecca in August, adding that “as Muslims we have to honour it.”
Dar stressed, however, that any decision would be taken by all three members of the pact.
The Iranians “disassociate themselves from both Houthis as well as Iraqi militias,” Dar said.
Asked whether the Mecca pact would expand, Dar said, “At least more than six countries are keen to join the Mecca, which is defensive in nature.”
__________________________________________________________________________
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAtNxX8fewmiFmN7N22
__________________________________________________________________________
Yemeni presidential council chief announces operation to retake Sanaa from Houthis
Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council Chairman Rashad al-Alimi announced Monday the launch of a military operation aimed at retaking the capital Sanaa and restoring state institutions from the Houthis.
“With God’s blessing, Operation ‘Dawn of Yemen’ has begun to restore state institutions, liberate the capital Sanaa, and end the coup by the Houthi militias,” Alimi said on US social media platform X.
He said the operation would be carried out by Yemen’s armed forces and other military formations with the support of the country’s “brothers and friends.”
“With the will of our people, the bravery of our armed forces and all military formations, and the support of our brothers and friends, Yemen will move toward a new dawn of freedom, peace and stability,” he added.
The announcement came as Yemeni government forces launched military operations against the Houthis in several areas, including the strategic Bab el-Mandeb region.
Earlier Monday, the Yemeni army said government forces had seized the Dhubab district and strategic positions around the Bab el-Mandeb Strait following clashes with the Houthis.
The pro-government Southern Giants Brigades also announced the launch of what they called a “decisive” military operation against the Houthis in the Bab el-Mandeb area.
The Houthis have controlled Sanaa since September 2014, along with large areas of northern and western Yemen, while the internationally recognized government and allied forces control areas mainly in the south and east.
Yemeni forces seize Dhubab, strategic sites near Bab el-Mandeb
The Yemeni army said Monday that government forces had seized the Dhubab district and strategic positions around the Bab el-Mandeb Strait following clashes with the Houthis.
Yemen’s official Saba news agency said forces from the Nation’s Shield and the pro-government Southern Giants Brigades, backed by the Popular Resistance, took control of Dhubab in western Taiz province.
A military source told Saba that the forces launched a large-scale operation with air support targeting Houthi positions and forces across several areas of the district.
The forces advanced and took control of key positions while cutting supply lines and routes leading to Bab el-Mandeb, the source said.
SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES
__________________________________________________________________________
FOLLOW INDEPENDENT PRESS:
WhatsApp CHANNEL
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAtNxX8fewmiFmN7N22
TWITTER (CLICK HERE)
https://twitter.com/IpIndependent
FACEBOOK (CLICK HERE)
https://web.facebook.com/ipindependent
YOUTUBE (CLICK HERE)
https://www.youtube.com/@ipindependent
Think your friends would be interested? Share this story!
