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Despite Military Might, Saudi Arabia Struggles with Houthi Attacks
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News18•12-10-2026, 20:01
Despite Military Might, Saudi Arabia Struggles with Houthi Attacks
- •Saudi Arabia spent approximately 83 billion dollars on its defense sector in 2025, ranking as the eighth-largest military spender globally.
- •Despite importing advanced weapons from Western countries, Saudi Arabia faces ongoing challenges in completely halting continuous Houthi rebel attacks.
- •A severe missile and drone attack by Iran-backed Houthi rebels on King Khalid International Airport resulted in 12 deaths and over 300 injuries.
- •The country's vast land area and the Houthis' tactical use of low-cost drones combined with advanced hypersonic missiles make complete defense impossible.
- •These ongoing attacks deal a major setback to Saudi Vision 2030 and question the nation's security credibility on the global stage.
Key Questions Answered
The Iran-backed Houthi rebels launched severe missile and drone attacks against Saudi Arabia in retaliation for the Saudi military intensifying airstrikes in Yemen after the ceasefire between the Saudi-backed Yemeni government and the Houthis collapsed.
In 2025, Saudi Arabia spent approximately $83 billion on its defense sector, which accounts for about 6.5 percent of the country's Gross Domestic Product and makes it the eighth-largest military spender globally.
The continuous Houthi strikes have dealt a major setback to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's "Saudi Vision 2030" initiative, which aims to transform the country into a global investment and tourism hub, while raising global questions about Saudi security.
