Saudi Arabia's $83 billion defence spend fails to stop Houthi missile strikes
A Houthi missile and drone barrage killed 13 people and injured over 300 at Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport, exposing gaps in Saudi Arabia's $83 billion defence programme.
A series of missile and drone assaults by Yemen's Houthi rebels on October 10 hit Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport, killing 13 people and wounding more than 300, according to Saudi officials. The attacks highlight the difficulty Saudi Arabia faces in protecting critical infrastructure despite spending about $83 billion on defence in 2025. The kingdom's arsenal includes advanced platforms such as F-15 fighter jets, Eurofighter Typhoons and Patriot and THAAD missile-defence systems, yet coordination problems between its military and security bodies hinder effective intelligence sharing and response.
The conflict's asymmetric nature allows the Houthis to use relatively cheap drones and missiles, forcing Saudi forces to keep costly air-defence systems on high alert. Repeated interceptions impose financial strain and sustain pressure on the security apparatus. The rebels' enhanced capabilities, built from years of fighting in Yemen and reportedly supported by Iranian technology, enable them to strike targets beyond their own territory. Additionally, disagreements between Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates over Yemen have weakened joint coordination against the Houthis.
Why it matters
The attacks reveal that even massive defence spending cannot guarantee security against low-cost, asymmetric threats.
How this story developed
- Oct 5 Yemeni government troops capture key positions on Bab el-Mandeb Strait
- Oct 9 Death toll confirmed at three Saudi nationals.
- Oct 11 A missile attack blamed on Houthi fighters hit King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, killing 12 people and wounding more than 300.
- Oct 11 Saudi authorities extended the closure of King Khalid International Airport.
- Oct 11 The strike on the Riyadh passenger terminal sparked a fire and prompted air-defence interception of a missile nearby. The Houthi movement said the attack responded to Saudi aggression, including a recent strike on Sanaa airport. The incident follows a larger assault the previous day that injured over 300 people and disrupted travel, prompting foreign executives to withdraw from the World Petroleum Congress. Saudi authorities assure heightened security for the upcoming World Petroleum Congress and the Future Investment Initiative.
- Oct 11 He also named King Fahd Airport in Dammam, an Aramco‑affiliated petrol station and a refinery in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Region as targets.
- Oct 11 A second projectile hit the airport a day after the missile strike, raising the death toll to 13.
- Oct 12 A Pakistani national died in the latest projectile strike.
- Oct 12 The Omani embassy thanked Saudi authorities for the medical care provided to an injured Omani doctor.
- Oct 12 Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Turkey demanded an immediate and unconditional halt to Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia.
- Oct 12 Saudi officials announced the continued closure of King Khalid International Airport pending safety inspections.
- Oct 12 Saudi authorities have extended the shutdown of King Khalid International Airport until Saturday after renewed Houthi missile and drone strikes, prompting airlines to cancel flights to and from Riyadh.
- Oct 12 Airport shutdown extended to Oct 17 for safety checks.
- Oct 13 Delta postponed its inaugural Atlanta‑Riyadh flight.
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