A New Middle East Power Struggle Is Taking Shape in the Red Sea

Israel's security establishment, in a panic of its own design, is referring to the Turkish-led defense bloc forming around Saudi Arabia as a "Sunni ring of fire," the successor to the Shiite ring Iran built from Hezbollah, the Houthis and Iraqi militias. The bloc's founding document is the Mecca pact, signed by Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan, with Turkey's parliament set to ratify this week, just days after Egypt's parliament voted to let Sisi defend Saudi territory.

For Riyadh, this bloc is intended to defend Saudi oil infrastructure against Houthi missiles and drones, but for Israel, it's a threat, and Tel Aviv has spent months trying to persuade Washington that Turkey, the bloc's anchor, belongs on the West's enemy list.