NATO member Turkey sends military support to Saudi Arabia to counter Houthis

Turkey is sending mainly technical and defensive support to Saudi Arabia as the kingdom faces attacks from Yemen’s Houthi movement, according to two officials cited by Reuters.

The support includes military equipment, intelligence sharing and weapons systems, including air defense systems. A Turkish official speaking anonymously said there has been no additional deployment of Turkish forces under the alliance framework so far.

Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan announced Monday that they would immediately begin implementing a collective defense clause of their alliance and work toward the rapid deployment of military forces and capabilities in Saudi territory.

The Turkish support is being provided mainly through bilateral channels because Turkey’s parliament has not yet ratified the agreement. Officials said the scale and nature of the assistance could increase once ratification is completed.

The escalation between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis began in July, ending a fragile truce that had largely frozen front lines in Yemen since 2022. The Houthis have increased attacks linked to Saudi Arabia, while Riyadh has intensified military operations in Yemen.