Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Under Heavy Security Amid Houthi Escalation

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is moving between palaces under heavy security amid growing fears of expanding Houthi attacks targeting power centers in Riyadh. According to a report by The Wall Street Journal, the 41-year-old prince stays in fortified palaces equipped with bunkers and accompanied by a carefully selected security team. His last public appearance was on Tuesday when he donated blood during a national donation campaign.

The exceptional security preparations come against the background of a significant escalation in attacks by the Houthi rebels from Yemen, who are backed by Iran. According to the report, the attacks have turned parts of the Saudi capital into a combat zone, threatening not only the kingdom's security but also its economic stability and the crown prince's ambitious plans.

International and Regional Military Support

Due to the escalation in the security situation in Saudi Arabia with the intensification of Houthi strikes, Turkey plans to increase its military support to Saudi Arabia in the coming weeks and deploy additional military personnel and defense equipment, according to Turkish sources quoted by Middle East Eye. In a joint statement, Turkey, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia announced they decided to immediately implement their collective defense obligations under the 'Mecca Pact' for defense.

At least one Houthi missile hit the international airport in Riyadh in an attack that killed at least 12 people and injured hundreds of others, many seriously. Two terminals were hit and their roofs partially collapsed. Among the dead was a 28-year-old Egyptian flight attendant who died of blood loss after her arm was severed. The following day, further attacks were reported at the closed airport, including a hit that caused a fire in Terminal 4.

Strategic Threat and Interceptor Shortages

The threat is not limited to the airport. Shrapnel from an intercepted ballistic missile hit a compound housing a kindergarten and a clinic, and workers in the financial district, students, and diplomats were forced to evacuate or take shelter. Explosions heard across Riyadh illustrate the Houthis' ability to attack targets hundreds of miles from their areas of control in Yemen. According to Saudi officials, the inventory of interceptor missiles needed to cope with the attacks is running low.

"Any military response carries the risk of deeper entanglement into an asymmetric conflict where the Houthis have proven they have the capability to cause significant and symbolic damage," explained Kristian Coates Ulrichsen, a Gulf expert at Rice University's Baker Institute.

Economic Impact on Vision 2030

The security crisis also threatens Mohammed bin Salman's economic plan. Attacks on airports, refineries, and the main east-west oil pipeline are undermining Saudi efforts to reduce its dependence on oil and become an international hub for tourism, investment, and technology. Mega-projects, including the futuristic city of Neom, have already been halted or reassessed. Foreign investment has weakened, and the Saudi Ministry of Finance projects a 3.6% contraction in GDP in 2026.