Saudi Arabia is facing an unprecedented security challenge as missile and drone attacks by Iran-backed Houthi militants target key infrastructure within its borders, raising concerns about the kingdom’s stability and regional influence. The recent escalation marks a significant shift in a conflict that has long centered on Saudi Arabia’s military intervention in Yemen.

In early October, the Houthis launched a missile strike on Riyadh’s main airport, causing extensive damage and killing 13 people. Another attack targeted the headquarters of the state-owned oil company, further undermining Saudi Arabia’s critical energy sector. These attacks underscore the growing capability of the Houthi movement, which has reportedly developed advanced weapons systems incorporating Chinese technology, Iranian components, and even artificial intelligence enhancements.

The attacks have exposed vulnerabilities in Saudi Arabia’s defense posture. While the kingdom maintains a sophisticated air force and missile capabilities, experts describe the Saudi military largely as a “parade army” lacking the capacity for sustained combat operations. The ruling Al Saud family has historically refrained from building a powerful standing army to prevent potential military coups, instead relying on alliances with tribal and religious leaders domestically and a longstanding security partnership with the United States internationally.

That partnership, forged in 1945 between King Abdul-Aziz ibn Saud and President Franklin Roosevelt, has long underpinned Saudi Arabia’s stability, with the kingdom providing oil access in exchange for U.S. protection. However, recent developments have strained this alliance. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (known as MBS), who consolidated power through a 2017 palace coup and sidelined traditional family decision-making structures, has found himself increasingly isolated both domestically and internationally.

MBS’s appeal for increased U.S. involvement in Yemen was reportedly rebuffed during a phone call with former President Donald Trump in September, who declined to expand American military engagement in the region. This apparent reluctance has left Saudi Arabia to face growing threats alone, even as its adversaries in Yemen and Iran extend their regional influence.

Strategically, Saudi Arabia is surrounded by challenge points: the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab el-Mandeb strait, critical maritime routes for global oil transit, lie under partial control of Iran and Houthi forces. Iran’s presence across the Persian Gulf to the east, as well as pro-Iran militias in neighboring Iraq, further complicate security concerns. With oil revenues comprising approximately 60 percent of government income, disruption of export routes could have severe economic consequences.

Potential options for Saudi Arabia’s leadership are limited. MBS might seek military assistance from regional allies with stronger armed forces, such as Egypt, Turkey, or Pakistan—nations that recognize the risks upheaval in Riyadh could pose to regional monarchies. Alternatively, a negotiated settlement with the Houthis remains improbable due to deep-rooted hostilities and disputed territorial claims. U.S. support, once a cornerstone of Saudi defense, appears uncertain in the current geopolitical climate.

The broader regional implications are significant. The U.S.-Israeli strike on Iran earlier this year, intended to reinforce American dominance and stabilize the Middle East, has instead contributed to escalating tensions and has left longtime allies like Saudi Arabia confronting threats without their traditional external support. For the first time since its establishment in 1932, Saudi Arabia’s leadership faces tangible dangers to its authority, highlighting shifting dynamics across the Persian Gulf region.