Saudi Arabia is facing a serious security crisis as Houthi rebels continue to launch missile and drone attacks on the kingdom. Despite possessing some of the world’s most powerful defense systems, Saudi Arabia has seen those systems fail to stop the strikes. Reports also indicate that residents are not receiving advance warnings when attacks take place, raising questions about what is behind the gaps in protection.
The kingdom’s critical infrastructure, including oil fields, refineries, pipelines, and international airports, is spread across the entire country. Continuous Houthi attacks have significantly depleted Saudi Arabia’s missile stockpiles. The country currently does not have enough Patriot defense batteries to protect all of its important sites at the same time.
Facing a worsening shortage of missiles, the Saudi government has reportedly taken a difficult decision. It has removed air defense batteries from ordinary civilian areas and other locations, confining them to just two or three of the most sensitive and strategic sites. As a result, other areas, including airports, have become more vulnerable to attack.
The Saudi government had earlier introduced a system to send emergency warning messages to people’s mobile phones. However, when Riyadh airport was recently attacked, no such alerts were issued. Some residents and businesses had complained that the notifications, which often arrived at night, were causing panic, prompting the government to stop them.
The government also appears to have halted the alerts to reassure citizens and foreign investors that the country remains calm. However, the absence of warnings means that people are left unaware that an attack is under way, and the lack of notice is reportedly costing lives.