ANKARA — Turkey is pushing back against criticism of its Mecca defense pact with Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, while signaling that its support for Riyadh against Houthi attacks will stop short of offensive involvement because of its Red Sea interests and ties with Iran.

Turkey’s Defense Ministry on Friday announced that General Selcuk Bayraktaroglu, chief of the general staff, had traveled to Saudi Arabia that day to meet with his Saudi counterpart, General Fayyadh bin Hamed al-Ruwaili, as well as Pakistan's army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir. No statements were released after the meeting. 

The talks took place as the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement, signed by Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey in August, came under renewed scrutiny amid escalating Houthi attacks on the kingdom. On Thursday, Saudi authorities intercepted several missiles and drones targeting locations including the southwestern city of Taif, home to King Fahd Air Base.

The urgent meeting of the military chiefs follows talks Thursday between Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York.