Why are Houthi missiles breaking through Saudi Arabia’s air defences?

Live updates

1. 3h ago

   Houthi Missiles Penetrate Saudi Air Defences in Riyadh

   Houthi missile and drone strikes have repeatedly breached Saudi Arabia's advanced air defence systems, hitting the capital's King Khalid Airport over two consecutive days. The attacks have exposed security gaps in the kingdom, killed 12 people in a major initial strike, and left one person dead with 11 injured in a subsequent attack. The ongoing violence has severely disrupted regional travel, prompting airlines such as IndiGo and Akasa Air to extend flight suspensions to multiple Saudi cities until October 17, 2026. The strikes also test the broader economic resilience of Vision 2030.

   Why it matters

   Saudi Arabia maintains one of the world's most expensive and sophisticated military arsenals, relying on American warplanes and layered protection systems such as Patriot and THAAD. Despite this high-tech backing, the kingdom has struggled against barrages launched by Houthi rebels from neighboring Yemen over a distance exceeding 1,000 kilometers. The persistent security failures are testing crown prince MBS's deep partnership with Washington and examining whether the United States will intervene directly against threats to the kingdom.

   What is confirmed

   • Houthi missile and drone attacks hit Riyadh's King Khalid Airport over two consecutive days.
   • An initial major attack on the Saudi airport killed 12 people.
   • A subsequent attack on Riyadh airport resulted in one death and 11 injuries.
   • Airlines including IndiGo and Akasa Air extended flight suspensions to Saudi cities until October 17, 2026.
   • Saudi Arabia utilizes American warplanes, Patriot, and THAAD missile defence systems.

   Still unconfirmed

   • The major attack on the Saudi airport led Donald Trump to weigh joining the fight.

   What to watch next

   • Decisions by Washington on whether to intervene militarily alongside Saudi Arabia against the Houthi threats.
   • The status of flight resumptions by commercial airlines to Saudi cities after October 17, 2026.
   Sources used for this update (15)

   1. WSJ — Iran-Backed Houthis Hit Saudi Capital’s Airport in Damaging New Attack
   2. NBC News — Major attack on Saudi airport kills 12 and leads Trump to weigh joining fight
   3. defencesecurityasia.com — Houthi Missile Attacks Expose Saudi Security Gap, Test MBS’s Trump Bet
   4. www.aljazeera.com — Why are Houthi missiles breaking through Saudi Arabia’s air defences? | Drone Strikes News | Al Jazeera
   5. Al Jazeera — Why are Houthi missiles breaking through Saudi Arabia’s air defences?
   6. The Guardian — Middle East crisis live: Riyadh airport reportedly hit again, day after deadly attack that killed 12
   7. BBC — Saudi Arabia's Riyadh airport hit by second strike in two days
   8. www.pbs.org — Why Saudi Arabia's military has struggled to defend the country against Houthi attacks
   9. www.nbcnews.com — Why advanced U.S. weapons aren’t stopping Houthi attacks in Saudi Arabia
   10. gulfnews.com — How Houthi Missiles Breached Saudi Defences in Deadly Riyadh ...
   11. www.outlookindia.com — How Are Houthi Missiles Breaching Saudi Arabia’s Air Defences ...
   12. www.thedailystar.net — Why are Saudi defences struggling to rebuff Houthi attacks?
   confidence 95%