Stories
Saudi Arabia has a modern military arsenal, but lacks the strategy to use it effectively
- •Saudi Arabia possesses advanced fighter jets, ballistic missiles, and a formidable air force, yet struggles to translate air superiority into ground control against irregular forces like the Houthis.
- •Institutional and command limitations, such as hobbled armed forces and a lack of junior-officer initiative, prevent Riyadh from effectively waging a long, adaptive campaign.
- •The ongoing conflict in Yemen highlights the risks of alliance-dependent security as traditional foreign backers scale back their direct support.
- •Houthi rebels continue to exploit asymmetric warfare, utilizing low-cost drones and missiles to threaten critical Saudi oil infrastructure and Red Sea shipping lanes.
- •Experts suggest that Saudi Arabia must reform its military institutions, build cohesive political alternatives in Yemen, and invest heavily in ground logistics rather than relying solely on expensive hardware.
Key Questions Answered
Saudi Arabia's military weakness is institutional rather than material. While the kingdom possesses advanced platforms like F-15s and precision-guided munitions, it lacks the command experience, junior-officer initiative, logistics, and combined-arms coordination needed to conduct a long campaign against an irregular enemy in difficult terrain.
The Houthi forces have seized Perim Island near the Bab el-Mandeb strait, along with the coastal town of Dhubab, while Saudi-backed forces have withdrawn from positions around Mokha.
To escape the cycle of airstrikes and retaliation, Saudi Arabia needs to build a local political alternative in Yemen involving groups like the Islah movement, tribal networks, and southern formations. Militarily, it could combine regulated foreign specialists with local Yemeni forces while investing in unglamorous essentials like maintenance and ammunition stocks.
