Why Saudi Arabia has struggled to defend its airport against recent Houthi attacks

The attacks have struck Saudi airports, killed at least 14 people and forced schoolchildren and businesspeople to stay indoors

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Saudi Arabia possesses one of the world’s most costly and sophisticated arsenals, packed with American warplanes, missile defences and other cutting-edge technology.

The Iran-backed Houthis, once regarded as little more than a ragtag militia, have transformed into a formidable fighting force. They have damaged the region’s top oil producer, threatened vital supply routes in the Red Sea, and now risk reigniting a full-scale war on the Arabian Peninsula that displaced millions and killed tens of thousands.

The Houthis are attacking Saudi Arabia because it supports government forces in Yemen the rebels seek to overthrow. As Saudi Arabia investigates how its air defences failed to stop the Houthis' attacks, it must also consider how to respond and what the rebels might do next.

Saudi Arabia is the world’s top purchaser of American weapons, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. It says the Saudis received 12 per cent of all U.S. arms exports from 2021-2025.

Over the years, the Saudis have purchased American F-15 warplanes, Patriot air defence systems, as well as advanced radars and offensive missile systems, according to the think tank, which tracks global arms transfers.

Saudi Arabia's annual budget for 2026 listed $83 billion for military expenditures. Earlier this year, it struck a $9 billion deal with Washington for 730 Patriot missiles.

“Expecting a country the size of Saudi Arabia to intercept every missile is simply unrealistic. No defence can guarantee complete protection,” Ali Shihabi, a Saudi analyst, said in a post online Monday.

Saudi Arabia recently struck a joint defence pact with Pakistan and Turkey. But so far, the two countries appear to be largely staying on the sidelines or limiting their support.

President Donald Trump said this week he is evaluating whether the U.S. should join Saudi strikes on the Houthis. But he has not yet announced a decision.

Like their patron Iran, the Houthis have deployed asymmetric warfare for the 21st century by capitalizing on their strengths — primarily drones and missiles. For the Houthis, success on the battlefield doesn’t require toppling Saudi Arabia; disrupting the Saudi economy and sowing fear within its society may be enough to give the Houthis leverage in any possible negotiations to end the fighting.