The kingdom has requested military assistance from ally Pakistan and is seeking further air-defense systems from other foreign sources. Washington has provided military advisers but rejected requests from the Crown Prince for direct military aid to counter Houthi advances in Yemen. Saudi intelligence indicates that Iran is urging the Houthis to enter the war, although the Saudi government has not officially confirmed the missile shortage.
Tuesday, October 20, 2026
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Saudi Arabia Requests Pakistani Aid for Missile Interceptor Shortage
War9 days ago
Two Ansarallah cruise missiles flew over 800 km through Saudi airspace recently, with one hitting a target and another intercepted over King Khalid International Airport, The Wall Street Journal reported. Riyadh is redeploying air-defense batteries to protect energy plants and palaces because it is running low on the interceptor missiles needed to counter Houthi attacks. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has begun moving between palaces equipped with bunkers and relying on handpicked security guards to ensure his safety.
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