Saudis seek allies’ help as missile defences run low in fight with Houthis

Saudi Arabia is facing a shortage of missile interceptors and has reached out to regional and Western allies for assistance in their ongoing conflict with Houthi rebels in Yemen, according to two regional officials. The Saudi government has requested support from France, Britain, Pakistan, and Egypt to deploy air-defense systems in the region to counter missiles and drones launched by the Houthis and other Iran-backed groups.

This request comes as the United States has also experienced a decline in its own stock of interceptors during the six-month war with Iran. Both officials spoke under the condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to grant media interviews. Saudi officials did not comment on the matter immediately.

The conflict between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis is a new development resulting from the ongoing war with Iran. On Wednesday, Saudi Arabia accused the Houthis of attempting to attack Mecca, Islam's holiest city, with a drone. The kingdom declared Mecca a "red line" and claimed to have intercepted the drone, while the Houthis denied targeting the holy city, which is located about 1,100 km (680 miles) from Yemen's border.

Saudi Arabia is in a challenging position as it needs to protect its military bases, government installations, and oil facilities from both the Houthis and other threats. The kingdom is also seeking to rally international allies to launch a collective response against the Houthis, with Oman and Egypt leading efforts for de-escalation.