Saudi Arabia, home to one of the largest defense budgets in the world, is struggling to defend its own skies. The Wall Street Journal reported on October 12, 2026 that the kingdom is running low on interceptor missiles as deadly drone and missile attacks by Yemen's Houthi rebels intensify, exposing stark limitations in the Saudi military's ability to protect its capital and critical oil infrastructure.
Deadly Strikes on Riyadh Expose the Gaps
The scale of the problem became undeniable on October 10, when a Houthi missile struck a terminal at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, killing at least 12 people and wounding 309, according to Saudi Arabia's General Authority of Civil Aviation. The death toll later rose to 13 after the Indian Embassy confirmed an Indian national injured in the attack had died. It was the deadliest attack in the kingdom in more than a decade.
At an October 15 press conference, coalition spokesperson Turki al-Maliki said the Houthis had launched 20 attacks on the airport between October 1 and 11: 10 drone strikes, four ballistic missile attacks, four cruise missile attacks, and two unidentified projectiles, killing 17 people and wounding 333 in total. Attacks on Abha airport in the southwest killed three more people and wounded 28, while on October 18 a Houthi projectile injured six Saudi citizens in the southern city of Najran.
Saudi investigators found the defenses were overwhelmed by design: the Houthis first fired multiple drones to saturate Saudi radars, clearing the way for cruise and ballistic missiles to fly more than 1,000 kilometers to Riyadh, two regional officials told The Associated Press. Some Houthi warheads can change direction in flight, a particular challenge for Patriot interceptors. No alert was issued by Saudi Arabia's threat warning system before the strike.
An Air Defense System Stretched Too Thin
Citing Saudi officials, the WSJ reports that interceptor stocks are rapidly depleting, forcing a painful triage: Riyadh is moving missile defense batteries around the vast country to prioritize royal palaces and energy infrastructure, choosing which targets get protection. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is moving between heavily guarded palaces equipped with bunkers, accompanied by handpicked security guards, according to people familiar with his movements.
Despite advanced American-made fighters and air defense systems, the Houthis have proved a resilient foe, the WSJ noted, pairing plentiful ground forces with indigenous missile and drone production that counters Saudi strengths. Back in September, the AP reported Saudi Arabia had already sought air-defense support from France, Britain, Pakistan, and Egypt. Riyadh has now turned to Turkey, Pakistan, and several European countries for air-defense units, and on October 18 Egypt's president said Cairo was prepared to provide military help. President Trump publicly urged Saudi Arabia to accept military help from Israel, a suggestion Riyadh has not publicly answered.
The US Role and Regional Fallout
So far, the US has confined its assistance to intelligence sharing, target identification, and planning for a Saudi-led offensive, while holding off on direct strikes against the Houthis, though it has sent military advisers. The Houthis have warned international airlines that Saudi airports are unsafe, and security fears have already led the EU and Gulf states to postpone a joint summit scheduled in Saudi Arabia this week.
Takeaway: A military with one of the world's biggest defense budgets is being held at arm's length by a rebel group with drones, improvisation, and Iranian backing. The WSJ's reporting points to a structural vulnerability: interceptors are running out, the airspace is too vast to cover, and allies are offering intelligence and advisers rather than direct firepower. Until Saudi Arabia closes its interceptor gap, its airports, energy facilities, and royal palaces remain exposed.
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