The Mecca Agreement Turkey Joined Saudi-Pakistani Defense Treaty

Update added on August 8

A mutual defense treaty earlier signed by Saudi Arabia and Pakistan on September 17, 2025, finally got new importance. Now, Turkey also joined the alliance, which was formally established in talks in Mecca between Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Pakistani Prime Minister Sheikhbaz Sharif. Turkey's accession brought Turkey, a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), into an independent treaty that also united a nuclear power and one of the largest Arab economies.

Reports on August 7, 2026 stated that the three leaders met in Jeddah, while other accounts stated that the agreement was signed in Mecca. The agreement has since been known as the Mecca Agreement, but its full text has not been made public. However, available information indicates that the agreement demonstrates much greater cooperation than the ordinary military partnerships previously maintained in Riyadh, Ankara and Islamabad, although states still each follow their own troop deployment procedures.

Any armed attack against any of the three states must therefore be considered an attack on all the signatory states.The guarantee is based on the right to self-defence recognized in Article 51 of the Charter of the United Nations. This wording establishes a collective guarantee covering a vast area from Anatolia to South Asia, including the Arabian Peninsula. However, it did not specify the nature of the expected assistance, the time of response, and the conditions under which Turkish, Saudi Arabian or Pakistani forces would be deployed.

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Russia Today Radio (RT) reported that the agreement signed by the three countries has sparked discussion about the establishment of a NATO-like bloc, which could change the regional balance of power.

The report stated that the military alliance between the three Sunni Muslim states had strong symbolic significance in conflict-torn areas. All three countries have very strong assets: Pakistan is the only Muslim country with a nuclear arsenal; Turkey has a strong defense industry and NATO's second-largest army; and Saudi Arabia, the world's largest crude oil exporter, has strong financial resources in addition to its army with a large number of U.S. weapons.

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Since April 2026, some information that has not yet been fully publicly recorded has been circulating, covering Islamabad sent 8,000 troops to Saudi Arabia, 16 JF-17 Block III fighter jets, a drone squadron and HQ-9 air defense systems.These resources were reportedly deployed during Iran's attack on the Kingdom. However, the deployment of these resources, the level of readiness and the chain of command have not been officially detailed, so it is impossible to determine the exact size of Pakistan's operations or their level of integration with the Saudi forces.

The Turkish Armed Forces, the 2nd largest military force in terms of NATO personnel, are now operating in Syria, Iraq, the Black Sea and the Eastern Mediterranean. In addition, Ankara has a well-developed aerospace and electronics technology base, with core businesses including Turkish Aerospace, Rocket Manufacturing and Aselsan. However, Turkey's accession to NATO doesn't imply that its new allies will also be protected by NATO. The Mecca Agreement is legally independent of the Treaty of Washington, and in crises involving Riyadh or Islamabad, it is not binding on Turkey's other allies.

Individual partnerships within the new alliance must cover production of military equipment, unmanned systems and electronic warfare countermeasures simultaneously.

Riyadh can provide financial capacity and logistics, while Turkey has an industrial complex for the production of drones, missiles, armoured vehicles and warships. Pakistan can add combat experience, its own military production facilities and its status as a nuclear power. Implementation of national projects can reduce partial dependence on external suppliers, but this dependence cannot be completely eliminated in the short term.

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In a statement from the organization, the Secretary-General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, Hisein Brahim Taha, said that he expressed strong appreciation and support for this agreement and called it a reflection of the three countries' commitment to strengthening regional and international cooperation. Important strategic steps.

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[Different sources on August 7 2026, 土耳其-沙特阿拉伯-巴基斯坦协议]

Statistics - US Opinion on Israel

Further news included on August 5

Here is a short list including latest US statistics highlighting the acceptance of Israel and its Prime Minister Netanyahu in the United States. It contains, as well, a visualisation of the remarkable changes, the population of Palestine / Israel has undergone between 1850 and 1960, seen as one decisive element in the development of a regional crisis that is now going global.

=> Statistics - US Opinion on Israel <=

=> 《伊斯兰国》新行动纲领 (中文—阿拉伯文) <=

Can Trump end the Iran war and sell it as a victory? | Deutsche Welle DW

Tehran scholar: Trump's remarks driven by frustration as Iran refuses to capitulate | CGTN China

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Iran - War Going Global ?

من هرمز إلى البحر الأحمر إلى مصر إلى بحر قزوين

كانت الأشهر الأولى من الحرب قد تركزت على الخليج ومضيق هرمز، لكن الأيام الأخيرة أظهرت بوضوح أن خطوط المواجهة تتوسع بصورة متسارعة، لتشمل مناطق كانت حتى وقت قريب بعيدة نسبياً عن دائرة القتال.

وفي مصر، أدى هجوم بطائرة مسيرة إلى اندلاع حريق في ناقلتين للغاز داخل ميناء دمياط على البحر المتوسط، في أول حادث من نوعه يطال منشأة طاقة مصرية منذ اندلاع الحرب.

وأكدت السلطات المصرية أن التحقيقات الأولية تشير إلى أن الحريق نتج عن هجوم بطائرة مسيرة، بينما سارعت الحكومة إلى تأمين بدائل لضمان استمرار إمدادات الغاز وعدم تأثر السوق المحلية.

ورغم عدم إعلان أي جهة مسؤوليتها عن الهجوم، فإن توقيته أثار قلقاً واسعاً، لأن ميناء دمياط يمثل إحدى المحطات الأساسية لاستقبال وإعادة تغويز الغاز الطبيعي المسال، كما أن أي تهديد للموانئ المصرية ينعكس مباشرة على أمن قناة السويس، التي أصبحت خلال الحرب أحد أهم البدائل لنقل النفط الخليجي إلى الأسواق الأوروبية.

أما التطور الأكثر دلالة، فتمثل في امتداد الحرب إلى بحر قزوين القريب من البحر الاسود والذي يصل إيران بروسيا، وذلك بعد تعرض سفينة مرتبطة بإيران لهجوم نُسب إلى أوكرانيا، وهو تطور يربط بصورة مباشرة بين الحرب الدائرة في الشرق الأوسط والحرب الروسية الأوكرانية، ويعكس تزايد الترابط بين ساحات الصراع المختلفة، حيث لم تعد الحدود الجغرافية التقليدية كافية لفصل النزاعات عن بعضها البعض.

From Hormuz to the Red Sea to Egypt to the Caspian Sea

The first months of the war were focused on the Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz, but recent days have clearly shown that the front lines are expanding rapidly, to include areas that until recently were relatively far from the circle of fighting.

In Egypt, a drone attack led to a fire breaking out in two gas tankers inside the port of Damietta on the Mediterranean Sea, in the first accident of its kind affecting an Egyptian energy facility since the outbreak of the war.

The Egyptian authorities confirmed that preliminary investigations indicate that the fire resulted from a drone attack, while the government was quick to secure alternatives to ensure continued gas supplies and that the local market was not affected.

Although no party claimed responsibility for the attack, its timing raised widespread concern, because Damietta Port represents one of the main stations for receiving and regasifying liquefied natural gas, and any threat to Egyptian ports is directly reflected in the security of the Suez Canal, which during the war became one of the most important alternatives for transporting Gulf oil to European markets.

As for the most significant development, it was the extension of the war to the Caspian Sea, which is close to the Black Sea and connects Iran to Russia, after a ship linked to Iran was attacked attributed to Ukraine, a development that directly links the ongoing war in the Middle East to the Russian-Ukrainian war, and reflects the increasing interconnection between different arenas of conflict, where traditional geographical borders are no longer sufficient to separate conflicts from each other.

[Monte Carlo Doualiya مونت كارلو الدولية , associated with RFI France, on July 30, 2026]

The Caspian Sea and its geopolitical importance in the frame
of the International North - South Transit Corridor (INSTC)

The International North-South Transit Corridor (INSTC) is crucial for diversifying global trade routes and reducing dependency on traditional maritime channels like the Suez Canal. It offers a faster and more cost-effective alternative, enhancing economic collaboration among participating nations. By facilitating regional integration, the INSTC contributes to economic growth, stability, and geopolitical balance, particularly in the context of shifting global power dynamics and the rise of the Global South.

In the frame of the current US-Israeli war on Iran the INSTC route got strategic importance for trading Iranian and Russian crude oil and natural gas. That is why Ukraine targeted the INSTC network which is independent from western influence.

The Middle East - This Morning

An important update, seemingly in support of
earlier Chinese news, was added on July 25:

If necessary, you can click (left) to all pictures, then click (right) to open them in a new tab, if you want to read included text without damaging your eyes.

Update on July 25: Iran allegedly forces American troops to run away. US troops evacuate bases in Qatar and UAE. [oneindia & AFP on July 25]

On of the rare Arabic videos, auto-dubbed in English, on the proceedings of July 23, when two Saudi oil tankers were targeted by Houthis in the Red Sea. One of them was hit and caught fire.

Please Note: ناة المهرية الفضائية is a Yemenite TV station.
The English translation is only available, if you
switch to watch the video directly on YouTube !

The above video can be stopped at any time to watch the nice animations and maps from the region of war described in English. You don't even need to understand the Arabic speaking guy.

Yemenite Houthies Threaten to Disrupt Saudi Oil Export

Update included on July 23

Houthi naval blockade on Saudi Arabia

On Monday, the Houthis in Yemen announced the imposition of a naval blockade on the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in a move that threatens to escalate the conflict in the region and disrupt energy supplies and global trade outside the Gulf region.

The military spokesman for the Houthis, Yahya Saree, said in a statement that the Houthis announce «a ban on maritime navigation on Saudi Arabia in accordance with the equation of siege by siege, and it will enter into force from the moment this statement is announced ».

He added: «We affirm the right of our people to confront the siege with a siege and comprehensive escalation with comprehensive escalation and to stabilize this equation». He continued, saying: «We confirm our full readiness for all options».

A complete closure of the Bab al-Mandab Strait, the southern gateway to the Red Sea, would halt Saudi oil exports to Asia, and could lead to a decline in global oil supplies by 7%.

The Iran war has already caused a massive decline in global oil flows, causing global supplies to decline by 10%. According to Reuters, Yemeni analyst Muhammad Al-Basha, founder of «Pasha Report», a risk consulting firm based in Washington, said: «The question now is whether the Houthis will start targeting ships heading to Saudi ports, at this stage, there is no clear answer». He added: «Even if no ships are attacked, the announcement alone is likely to disrupt shipping traffic and create uncertainty regarding Saudi ports, and the crucial question remains whether the Houthis will shift from threat to direct action».

Saudi Arabia targeted by Houthi rebels in the past

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The [official Saudi] statement continued: «The Ministry of Foreign Affairs recalls the widespread attacks previously carried out by the Houthi militia targeting the Yemeni people and infrastructure in Yemen, including targeting Aden Airport on 12/30/2020 AD and the resulting killing and wounding of dozens of martyrs and wounded, and during the period of calm it also targeted Oil export ports in southern Yemen on 10/21/2022 AD The subsequent attacks to stop the government’s ability to sell oil, which represents approximately 60% of the government’s revenues, which was directly reflected in the payment of salaries to employees, then the confiscation of 4 planes belonging to the Yemeni Airlines Company, which the militia detained at Sana’a Airport after transporting Yemeni pilgrims from Jeddah Governorate, then plunged Yemen into the conflict in the region and targeted commercial ships in the Red Sea».

Trump verbally answering new threat

US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that the United States will take over the affairs of the Yemeni Houthi rebels supported by Iran, if they carry out their threat to impose a ban on Saudi ports.

Trump said while receiving Lebanese President Joseph Aoun at the White House, "If something like this happens, we will take care of it."

He added: «You know that we did this with the Houthis previously, and we have not heard anything from them for a while » after that, in reference to the strikes that Washington directed at them, before reaching an Omani-brokered agreement in May 2025.

Latest: Lebanese President Aoun stressed to Trump the urgent need for a complete Israeli withdrawal.

[الغد, independent Arabic daily published in Jordan on July 21]

War on Iran - The Centcom Documents

Update added on July 20

=> The Centcom Documents <=

The quoted source is published by a politically connected news outlet in Lebanon.
لقد تحسنت الآن قراءة النصوص العربية المُضمَّنة

Lamine Yamal is the youngest member of the winning Spanish team at the World Cup 2026 in North America. Born in 2007, he already represented Spain internationally.

Yamal was born in Spain into a family of emigrants: His father came from Morocco and his mother from Equatorial Guinea. If he were born in the USA, he might have feared deportation under the rule of Donald Trump.

Yamal is a Muslim, observing the Ramadan fasting even during training sessions and match days.

He publicly condemned anti-Muslim and xenophobic chants against Egyptian players during a match with Egypt in Barcelona earlier this year. During Barcelona's 'La Liga' title-winning parade, only some weeks later, he showed solidarity with Palestinians by waving a Palestinian flag. His action was praised, equally, by fans and politicians such as Pedro Sáchez, Prime Minister of Spain.

Significant Loss of US Support for Israel

Nearly half of House Democrats voted to cut off aid to Israel Wednesday, underscoring a seismic shift in political support for the longtime U.S. ally.

The amendment to a State Department spending bill would have eliminated $3.3 billion in funding, and thanks to strong Republican support for the Jewish state, it failed 314-104 . But the vote served as a moment of reckoning for House Democrats who have had to confront years of voter outrage about Israel’s handling of the war in Gaza.

[Politico on July 15, 2026]

New York City's 112th mayor Zohran Mamdani, once sworn in on Quran, and his campaign to 'Tax the Rich' has led to a dramatic exodus of millionaires and which caused a heavy loss of tax revenues.

Even though a certain number of Jewish millionaires should be touched by his socialist tax policy and his Muslimic background, his acceptance among Jewish citizens is higher than that of Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu. This has been regarded by some media as a result of a 'generation change' where old certainties are no longer valid.

Israel ... Iran ... Iraq ... Quick, Who Has The Nuke ?

Last Update included on July 15

A running joke goes viral ...

=> Why is Israel allowed to have nukes ! <=

Historic Documents about Israel's Nuclear Program

Mordechai Vanunu, an Israeli insider who leaked infomation
about Israel's nuke factory at Dimona in the Negev desert.

In September 2025, months after the so-called "12-Day War", Iranian state television claimed, according to information gathered by *The Times of Israel*, to possess alleged footage recorded inside the Dimona reactor, as well as documents concerning 100 scientists reportedly working on Israel's military nuclear program. Furthermore, according to a statement by Iranian Intelligence Minister Esmail Khatib, who was killed this week in an Israeli airstrike, Iran reportedly holds hundreds of documents detailing the scope of the Benjamin Netanyahu administration's nuclear program. En septiembre de 2025, meses después de la denominada guerra de los 12 días, según información recolectada por The Times of Israel, la televisión estatal iraní aseguró estar en posesión de supuestas imágenes, que habrían sido grabadas al interior del reactor de Dimona, junto con los documentos de 100 científicos que trabajarían en el programa atómico militar israelí. Además, en un testimonio del ministro de Inteligencia de Irán, Esmail Khatib, asesinado esta semana en medio de un bombardeo israelí, Irán tendría en su poder cientos de documentos que detallan el alcance del programa atómico de la Administración de Benjamin Netanyahu. [Quoted from France24 in Spanish, March 22, 2026] Editor's Note: According to social media in November 2024, an Iran based hacker group allegedly succeeded to enter Israeli government networks, targeting high-ranking personnel and gathering lots of documents that highlight the proceedings of the Netanyahu administration. Some netizens volunteered to make part of the information immediately available to anybody with a special interest in the subject.

[Spain's President Pedro] Sánchez said the US invasion of Iraq in 2003 had failed to achieve its goals and instead forced ordinary people to face adversity, saying it led to a sharp increase in fuel and grocery prices, a migration crisis and jihadist attacks in Europe. He warned that the Iran war could have a similar economic impact on millions. "Every bomb that falls in the Middle East eventually hits, as we are already seeing, the wallets of our families," Sánchez said. The government's position is widely shared by people across Spain, with 68% saying they were opposed to the war in a poll conducted by 40db. [Quoted from Euronews, March 25, 2026] Editor's Note: Main reason for the War on Iraq was the allegation of Iraq "possessing weapons of mass destruction" and which turned out to be a fake. At the time, even German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer publicly criticized the decision of US president George Bush junior, yet of no avail. After the war, the Bush government, notoriously lacking translation capacities, published lots of documents in Arabic they got their hands on after US invasion. This was meant to incite American patriots with some experience in the Arabic language to lend a hand in the translation. Almost immediately thereafter, some netizen discovered a detailed plan to build an Iraqi nuke among the flood of documents. That plan had been abandoned long before the war, after Israel had bombed and destroyed Iraq's only nuclear reactor. Nevertheless, the project should have been of some value for other low-profile nations interested in the matter. Therefore, the document platform was shut down in a hurry. At the time, I was only hours too late to ensure my own copy of the plan. By the way, the exact position of the Iraqi experimental reactor had been determined in the frame of a sophisticated Israeli Mossad operation they are still proud of. I read about it. So much about nuclear proliferation...

Voice from Iran - No End of War with Iran's Surrender

Update added on July 11 & 12

أكد رئيس البرلمان الإيراني، محمد باقر قاليباف، اليوم الجمعة، أن الولايات المتحدة وإسرائيل و«الناتو» كانوا يتصورون أن بإمكانهم إرغام إيران على الاستسلام، فيما أشار إلى أن إنهاء الحرب يمثل أولوية لدول العالم.

وقال قاليباف في تصريحات صحافية، إن «أميركا والكيان الصهيوني والناتو كانوا يتصورون قبل الحرب الأخيرة أن بإمكانهم إرغام إيران على الاستسلام في غضون أيام»، مضيفاً أن «أميركا والكيان الصهيوني والناتو أدركوا سريعاً أنهم لن يحققوا أهدافهم ورأى العالم أنهم فشلوا أمام إيران».

وتابع «أفهمت نائب الرئيس الأميركي خلال المفاوضات أننا لا نثق بكم إطلاقاً»، مؤكداً «لم نكفّ أبداً عن الاستعداد للدفاع عن بلدنا وفي أي لحظة يخون فيها الأميركيون التفاهم نحن مستعدون للدفاع الشامل».

وأشار قاليباف إلى أن «إنهاء الحرب يمثل أولوية لدول العالم، ولكن يجب على الجميع أن يعلم أن هذا الصراع لن ينتهي أبداً باستسلام إيران».

The Speaker of the Iranian Parliament, Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, confirmed today, Friday, that the United States, Israel, and NATO believed that they could force Iran to surrender, while indicating that ending the war represents a priority for the countries of the world.

Qalibaf said in press statements that «America, the Zionist entity, and NATO thought before the last war that they could force Iran to surrender within days, adding that » America, the Zionist entity, and NATO quickly realized that they would not achieve their goals, and the world saw that they had failed in the face of Iran«.

He continued «I made the US Vice President understand during the negotiations that we do not trust you at all », stressing «we have never stopped preparing to defend our country and at any moment when the Americans betray the understanding we are ready for comprehensive defense ».

Qalibaf pointed out that ending the war is a priority for the countries of the world, but everyone must know that this conflict will never end with Iran’s surrender«.

[الأخبار, published in Beirut on June 10]

Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister blames the United Arab Emirates
(UAE) for their support of US aggression on Iran and which has
been rewarded by better US trade conditions for the Emirates on
July 10, 2026.

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One hour ago on July 11:
Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi arrives in Muscat,
capital of Oman, for talks about the Strait of Hormus.

That's about how fast the news are spreading nowadays !