Syria weighs joining Mecca defence pact amid Israeli attacks

Manama: Syria is considering joining the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement, a regional pact involving Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Pakistan, Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani has confirmed, signalling Damascus's interest in strengthening collective security arrangements amid escalating regional tensions, according to reports.

Speaking at a regional security session at the Manama Dialogue 2026 in Bahrain on Saturday, al-Shaibani said discussions were underway to assess Syria's entry into the alliance, according to the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA).

The minister stressed the urgent need for joint defence mechanisms and stronger deterrence capabilities to confront growing security threats in the region.

Al-Shaibani accused Israel of carrying out more than 1,000 attacks on Syrian territory in less than two years, claiming that dozens of people had been killed. He also condemned the repeated violations of Syria's sovereignty, questioning demands for border control while Syrian territory continued to face attacks.

Reiterating Syria's claim over the occupied Golan Heights, al-Shaibani cited UN Security Council Resolution 497 as the key international reference on the territory. The 1981 Israeli decision to impose its laws and administration on the Golan Heights was declared null and void under the resolution.

Syria's potential entry into the pact could expand the agreement's regional reach as Damascus seeks stronger collective security arrangements.