An unprecedented wave of Houthi attacks against Saudi Arabia has reportedly forced Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to move between heavily fortified palaces equipped with secure shelters, amid growing concerns over his personal safety and the kingdom’s ability to defend its territory.
According to the American newspaper The Wall Street Journal, the Saudi crown prince has significantly tightened his security arrangements as the confrontation with Yemen’s Ansar Allah movement, commonly known as the Houthis, intensifies.
The recent attacks, described as unprecedented in their intensity, have exposed what analysts consider serious vulnerabilities in Saudi Arabia’s defensive capabilities despite Riyadh’s extensive investment in advanced military equipment.
Although the Saudi Council of Ministers has warned that the Houthis will face “severe consequences” for their repeated attacks against the kingdom, questions are mounting over the whereabouts of Mohammed bin Salman, whose public appearances have become increasingly rare.
Mohammed bin Salman Reportedly Moves Between Fortified Palaces
The Wall Street Journal reported that the 41-year-old crown prince has been moving between highly secured royal palaces fitted with fortified shelters, while relying on a personally selected security team for protection.
His most recent public appearance was reportedly on 6 October, when he hosted Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa in Riyadh.
According to the account, the meeting was part of efforts to reach an agreement under which Syria would deploy forces to support Saudi operations aimed at removing the threat posed by the Houthi blockade of the Bab al-Mandab Strait.
In exchange, Mohammed bin Salman reportedly pledged substantial economic assistance to Damascus.
Shortly after the meeting, the crown prince was photographed donating blood at a medical centre in the Saudi capital, an appearance described in the account as an attempt to demonstrate that the situation remained under control.
Since then, security measures surrounding the crown prince have reportedly intensified considerably.
Over the past ten days, his movements and whereabouts have become known to only a small number of people.
The most serious concern, according to the account, is that the Houthis may be planning an assassination attempt against Mohammed bin Salman following three major attacks against Saudi Arabia within a single week.
Other reports, including coverage by the Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth, have claimed that the crown prince’s wife and five children have also been forced into hiding because of fears of a surprise attack.
These claims reflect the heightened security concerns surrounding the Saudi leadership, although the precise nature of the reported threats has not been independently established in the supplied account.
Saudi Arabia Faces Difficult Military Choices
The Wall Street Journal quoted Kristian Coates Ulrichsen, a Gulf affairs specialist and researcher at Rice University’s Baker Institute, who warned that the Saudi leadership now has few favourable options.
“Any military response carries the risk of becoming more deeply entangled in an asymmetric conflict, after the Houthis demonstrated their ability to inflict significant damage, both materially and symbolically,” Ulrichsen said.
His assessment points to the difficulties Riyadh faces in responding to an adversary capable of launching attacks against strategically important infrastructure while avoiding the costs associated with a conventional military confrontation.
Until the summer of this year, Saudi officials had expressed confidence that the threat from Yemen had largely been brought under control.
However, the latest attacks, which the Houthis describe as retaliation for Saudi measures against them, have raised renewed concerns about security along the kingdom’s southern frontier.
Energy installations and airports have emerged among the targets, exposing vulnerabilities in infrastructure essential to Saudi Arabia’s economic activity and international connectivity.
Despite years of substantial investment in sophisticated military systems, the recent escalation has raised questions about whether the kingdom can effectively protect its extensive territory against continued attacks.
Saudi Air Defences Struggle to Protect Vast Territory
According to individuals familiar with internal Saudi deliberations, the kingdom is facing significant difficulties providing comprehensive air defence coverage across its vast territory.
Saudi authorities have reportedly been moving air defence batteries between different locations in an attempt to protect royal palaces and critical energy infrastructure.
These movements reflect the challenge of defending multiple strategically important sites while responding to threats that may emerge from different directions.
The situation has become particularly sensitive as Mohammed bin Salman attempts to contain the confrontation with Iran.
Earlier Iranian attacks during the war had already demonstrated the vulnerability of oil facilities, airports and other economic assets across the Gulf.
The renewed Houthi attacks have added another security challenge at a time when the Saudi leadership is seeking to prevent the regional confrontation from expanding further.
Bin Salman Seeks to Keep Diplomatic Channels With Iran Open
Despite supporting continued economic pressure on Iran, Mohammed bin Salman has reportedly instructed his advisers to maintain diplomatic communication with Tehran.
According to people familiar with discussions inside the kingdom, the crown prince wants Iranian officials to understand that Saudi Arabia does not intend to escalate the confrontation.
This approach reflects an attempt to balance continued economic pressure against Tehran with efforts to prevent further military escalation.
The Saudi leadership is therefore facing the challenge of responding to repeated Houthi attacks while avoiding steps that could draw the kingdom deeper into the wider conflict involving Iran.
The reported diplomatic approach also comes at a time when Riyadh is seeking additional military support from regional and international partners.
Trump Has Yet to Deliver the Military Assistance Riyadh Requested
Mohammed bin Salman has invested considerable effort in strengthening his relationship with US President Donald Trump, including a pledge to invest approximately $1 trillion in the United States.
Nevertheless, Washington has reportedly not yet responded positively to Saudi requests for military assistance aimed at stopping the Houthi advance.
Trump told journalists over the weekend that Washington was communicating with Ansar Allah, while suggesting that the United States could potentially join Saudi strikes against the group.
Referring to the Houthis’ actions, Trump said on Saturday evening: “What they did was very bad.”
However, the possibility of American military participation has not, according to the account, translated into the direct assistance Riyadh has been seeking.
The situation has raised questions about the extent to which the close personal and economic relationship between Trump and Mohammed bin Salman can translate into military support during a confrontation.
Trump has continued to welcome Saudi investment and the expansion of economic partnerships with the kingdom.
Yet the American president, who previously praised Mohammed bin Salman even when the crown prince faced international isolation following the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, is now portrayed as less enthusiastic about extending military backing to him.
Riyadh Turns to Pakistan and Other Partners for Support
As the security threats expand, Saudi Arabia has reportedly approached Pakistan, one of its military partners, seeking assistance.
Riyadh is also searching for additional air defence systems to strengthen protection against aerial attacks.
At the same time, Saudi authorities are reportedly attempting to recruit foreign fighters to support Yemeni groups aligned with the kingdom.
These efforts reflect Saudi Arabia’s search for military options beyond its existing defensive capabilities and its reliance on Washington.
However, the prospects of securing substantial assistance from other partners also appear limited.
Britain, Egypt, Turkey and Pakistan Keep Their Distance
According to the account, Britain and Egypt are also unwilling to provide direct military assistance to Saudi Arabia in the current confrontation.
The administration of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi has reportedly indicated that its support will be limited to formal coordination and intelligence cooperation, rather than active military involvement.
Turkey and Pakistan, described as Saudi Arabia’s partners within the Mecca Alliance, are likewise maintaining a degree of distance from the confrontation.
This reluctance among Riyadh’s partners comes as the kingdom faces mounting pressure from Houthi attacks and seeks to strengthen its ability to protect vital infrastructure.
Saudi Arabia consequently finds itself navigating a difficult combination of military vulnerabilities, limited external assistance and the risk that a stronger response could deepen its involvement in an asymmetric conflict.
Meanwhile, Mohammed bin Salman’s reported movement between fortified palaces, the tightening of security around his family and the kingdom’s continued efforts to obtain military assistance illustrate the growing pressure on the Saudi leadership as the confrontation with the Houthis intensifies.
