How did Houthi missiles travel over 1,000km and breach Saudi air defences in deadly Riyadh airport attacks?

The recent Houthi missile strikes on Riyadh’s international airport have raised questions about how the missiles managed to travel over 1,000 kilometers and breach Saudi Arabia’s air defenses. Saudi Arabia is investigating why its air defense systems failed to stop the barrage that resulted in at least 13 deaths and over 300 injuries, according to two regional officials.

Initial findings suggest that the Iran-backed Houthis launched multiple drones before deploying a mix of cruise and ballistic missiles, which may have complicated Saudi efforts to detect, track, and intercept the incoming weapons. The attack has also questioned the effectiveness of sophisticated missile defense systems when faced with various types of threats.

The Houthi group, once a mainly guerrilla force, is believed to have acquired advanced technology, expertise, and operational capabilities through Iran’s support, providing them with missile components, weapons technology, and training. These sophisticated attacks, involving maneuverable warheads, low-flying cruise missiles, and coordinated drone assaults, pose unique challenges that no single air defense system can guarantee to intercept effectively.

Saudi Arabia operates US-supplied Patriot missile defense systems, but even advanced interceptors may not provide complete protection against every incoming threat.