Saudi Arabia’s extensive military arsenal, built over years with significant investment in advanced weaponry primarily supplied by the United States, has faced repeated challenges as Yemeni Houthi forces have carried out persistent missile and drone attacks deep within the kingdom. This month, the Houthis struck various strategic targets, including Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport and, most recently, the Dhahran headquarters of Saudi Aramco, the world’s largest oil company, highlighting vulnerabilities despite Riyadh’s vast defense expenditures.
The kingdom has allocated substantial resources to its military, spending the equivalent of 6.5 percent of GDP on defense last year, down from a peak of 13 percent in 2015, the year Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman ordered a coalition intervention against the Iran-aligned Houthis in Yemen. Following years of air campaigns and combat engagements, the conflict saw a ceasefire in 2022. However, tensions resumed after Saudi strikes on Sana’a’s airport runway in July, prompting the Houthis to blockade Saudi shipping routes, initiate offensives along the Red Sea coast, and intensify attacks on Saudi energy infrastructure.
Analysts and military insiders note that while Saudi Arabia’s military leadership possesses considerable expertise, the challenges stem largely from Houthis’ evolving tactics and technological adaptations. The rebel group has reportedly utilized drones to map Saudi missile defense ranges and launched cruise missiles, likely including Iranian Quds-4 variants, which fly at low speeds and altitudes with maneuverability that complicates detection and interception.
The Houthis’ improved capabilities are believed to be influenced by broader regional conflicts involving Iran and its allies facing U.S. and Israeli forces, from which lessons have been drawn on conducting missile strikes against critical infrastructure. Saudi Arabia’s missile defense systems, which include Patriots and THAAD interceptors, have seen their stockpiles strained as Gulf states have collectively confronted Iranian missile threats since February. This depletion in interceptor inventory has, according to experts, affected the kingdom’s ability to sustain comprehensive defense coverage across its vast territory.
Defense analysts liken the situation to that faced by other states confronted with missile saturation tactics, where attackers deploy massed barrages to overwhelm sophisticated defenses. Efforts to counter this involve intelligence operations aimed at detecting and destroying missile launchers within Houthi-controlled areas, alongside airstrikes by Saudi F-15 fighter jets; however, the dynamic nature of the conflict is described metaphorically as a “whack-a-mole” challenge.
In response to the intensified Houthi threat, Saudi Arabia has sought additional support from international partners. France recently committed to deploying troops, radars, and defense systems to safeguard the Yanbu oil terminal, while the United Kingdom has provided an RAF Voyager air-to-air refueling aircraft to bolster Saudi defensive efforts in Yemen. Additionally, a new defense agreement involving Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan was activated this month to enhance collective deterrence measures.
Nevertheless, Saudi Arabia faces uncertainty regarding the extent of U.S. involvement. While Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman reportedly sought support from former President Donald Trump, public U.S. statements have been mixed, reflecting a reluctance to engage directly in defending a stronger power against a weaker adversary. Experts observe that this marks a shift from traditional U.S. roles, underscoring Riyadh’s increased pressure to manage the evolving threat largely through its own and allied capabilities.