Yemen’s Houthi movement has escalated military operations against Saudi Arabia since September, carrying out multiple strikes including a significant attack on King Khalid International Airport that killed 12 people and wounded 309. The attack prompted Saudi Arabia’s civil aviation authority to suspend operations and divert all flights, while the United States and United Kingdom issued updated travel warnings. The incident marked the deadliest attack on the kingdom in more than a decade and prompted warnings from the Houthis for people to avoid Saudi airports.
The Houthis possess an arsenal primarily derived from Iranian weaponry that has evolved considerably since the group took control of Sanaa in 2014. Their inventory includes medium-range ballistic missiles such as the Palestine-2, capable of reaching 2,000 kilometers with hypersonic capabilities, and the Toufan, believed to have a range between 1,350 and 1,950 kilometers. The group also maintains shorter-range systems including the Burkan and Badr series. Experts note the Houthis employ a mixed-weapons strategy, combining missiles and drones of varying speeds to overwhelm air defences. Intelligence reports suggest the group has recently acquired loitering cruise missile capabilities with support from Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps.
Saudi Arabia operates one of the world’s most advanced air defence systems, yet occasional projectiles penetrate these multilayered defences. Security analysts attribute this to the scale of Saudi territory, its border proximity to Yemen, and the volume of incoming threats. Some experts suggest Saudi defences were originally configured to counter threats from Iran rather than the Houthis. Additionally, Saudi Arabia faces constraints from limited stockpiles of Patriot and THAAD interceptor munitions, which have been heavily depleted during recent regional conflicts.
The Houthis operate under significant constraints, including a UN-mandated arms embargo, a years-long Saudi blockade, and simultaneous fighting across multiple Yemeni fronts. Analysts suggest the group likely maintains only limited supplies of short-range ballistic missiles, restricting their capacity for sustained saturation attacks. Saudi Arabia’s air campaign has concentrated on destroying Houthi missile depots, underground facilities, and drone production centers. While military assessments suggest the Saudi-led coalition maintains overall operational superiority, the Houthis continue generating international attention through periodic strikes against critical Saudi infrastructure targets.
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