Saudi Arabia is facing a severe wave of missile and drone attacks from the Houthi movement in Yemen, hitting civilian airports and vital facilities, prompting travel warnings from Western governments.
Last month, Houthi fighters blitzed through Yemen’s coast, seizing the coastal city of Mokha and taking the strategic Bab al-Mandab Strait, according to reports on the ground. For months, the conflict between Iran-backed Houthi fighters and the Saudi-led coalition has pushed the kingdom into a deeply precarious security environment. In response, Saudi Arabia and Yemen’s internationally recognized government launched a counteroffensive to retake lost territory.
Attacks by the Houthis struck King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, leaving one person dead according to reports. That military campaign triggered a violent wave of retaliatory projectile and drone strikes reaching deep into Saudi territory. A Saudia Airlines plane was left in flames, hundreds of flights were canceled, and international airlines suspended service to the capital amid explosions and fires.
Western Governments Issue Travel Advisories for Saudi Arabia
Several Western governments issued travel advisories against travel to Saudi Arabia, while the United States required officials to obtain special approval to use the capital’s airport, and executives reportedly relocated to Doha and the UAE, Semafor reported. The capital has experienced a jarring reversal from the relative calm it maintained earlier in the regional conflict. Some offices, schools, and the Expo 2030 construction site near the airport were evacuated.
Major General Mohammed al-Samadi argued that targeting King Khalid International Airport represents a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law, explaining that international laws mandate a precise distinction between military and civilian targets, and that bombing civilian-populated airports may amount to war crimes.
On the political front, al-Shami stated that the worst is yet to come
if military operations against them continue.
Saudi Arabia Appeals To European Nations For Military Aid
Turki bin Faisal Al Saud, the head of Saudi intelligence, called on European nations—specifically France, the United Kingdom, and Germany—to provide military support in the fight against the Houthis, according to Bild. Faced with mounting drone and missile barrages, Riyadh is looking far beyond Washington for assistance. Turki argued that European countries reap economic benefits from the region’s resources and trade routes, stating that protecting international trade routes should not remain solely an American responsibility.
“The whole world must take part in this.”
Turki bin Faisal Al Saud, head of Saudi intelligence
Several months ago, Riyadh proposed establishing a military surveillance and security system for the Arabian Peninsula and the Bab al-Mandab Strait, though no European country agreed to join at the time. However, France is currently participating in operations, and the United Kingdom is assisting with in-flight refueling. Egypt, Pakistan, and Turkey are also supplying support through provisions, ammunition, and intelligence.
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met in Mecca to sign a joint defense agreement. Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ishaq Dar, noted that planned meetings would focus on attacks by Yemeni Houthis in the kingdom.
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had previously sought assistance from U.S. President Donald Trump regarding the Houthis, though Trump reportedly stepped back just moments before American warplanes were scheduled to launch missions against Houthi targets. Even so, the US Defence Security Cooperation Agency announced a State Department approval for a potential sale of up to 730 PAC-3 MSE missiles to bolster regional defense endurance.
Economic Strains Meet Upcoming Riyadh Summits
The Houthi attacks have added to Saudi Arabia’s wider financial difficulties, which feature a 25% drop in “oil activities” alongside a nearly 5% decline in the nation’s gross domestic product from April through June compared to the year’s opening quarter. The economic stakes are rising alongside the military toll.
Over the coming weeks, Saudi Arabia is scheduled to host the World Petroleum Congress and the Future Investment Initiative, bringing top energy and financial executives to Riyadh. While no postponements have been announced, security teams are actively assessing risk levels. A meeting between the Gulf Cooperation Council and the European Union is scheduled for next month in Riyadh, where officials hope negotiations on a trade agreement—ongoing for 30 years—can finally conclude and lead to more security cooperation.
Will European capitals commit direct military assets to counter the Houthi drone and missile campaign against the kingdom?