Saudi-Israel Arms Path Unconfirmed as Riyadh Sets Terms

Houthi attacks on Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport on October 8, 10 and 11 killed at least 16 people, while Saudi Arabia hasn’t publicly confirmed negotiations to buy Israeli missile defenses. Riyadh has repeatedly said diplomatic relations with Israel depend on establishing a Palestinian state, a position its Foreign Ministry restated in February 2025.

The deadliest airport strike came on October 10. It killed 12 people and injured 309. An attack on October 13 damaged an administrative building at Saudi Aramco’s headquarters in Dhahran. Saudi forces have intercepted numerous incoming weapons, but others have hit their targets despite billions of dollars spent on air defenses.

Saudi Arabia’s defense gaps

The kingdom operates American-made Patriot missile batteries and Terminal High Altitude Area Defense, or THAAD, which is designed to intercept ballistic missiles at high altitude. The Saudi Press Agency said the first Saudi THAAD battery became operational in July 2025.

Ballistic missiles climb high into the atmosphere, then descend at great speed. Cruise missiles fly more like pilotless aircraft, approaching low enough to avoid radar detection until late in flight. Drones can be smaller, slower and much cheaper than the missiles used to shoot them down. Defenders must identify each threat, choose an interceptor and act before impact.

Regional officials told the Associated Press that investigators believe drones preceded cruise and ballistic missiles in the recent airport attack. If confirmed, the sequence would suggest an effort to stretch Saudi defenses, with threats arriving in quick succession.

Saudi Arabia covers nearly 2.15 million square kilometers, about 78 times the combined land area of Israel and the West Bank. Cities, airports, refineries, oil fields, military bases and ports lie across the kingdom. Its defenses must cover a much larger area than Israel’s, though sparsely populated desert doesn’t need the same protection as cities and oil facilities.

Israeli systems and the limits of cooperation

Israel has developed defenses against different aerial threats, and some Israeli systems have reached the United Arab Emirates. In May, U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee confirmed Israel had sent Iron Dome batteries and personnel to help defend the UAE against Iranian attacks. The UAE and Israel established diplomatic relations under the 2020 Abraham Accords.

Iron Dome was developed to intercept short-range rockets. Upgrades have expanded its ability to engage drones and cruise missiles, but its coverage is too limited to defend much of Saudi Arabia. David’s Sling is designed to counter cruise missiles, certain ballistic missiles, aircraft and drones. Arrow 2 and Arrow 3 are intended mainly for ballistic missiles; Arrow 3 can intercept suitable targets outside the atmosphere.

Other systems could meet some of the kingdom’s needs. Rafael’s mobile SPYDER system is designed to engage aircraft, drones and cruise missiles. Israel Aerospace Industries manufactures Barak MX, which uses different interceptors against aircraft, drones, cruise missiles and some ballistic threats. Either system could complement Saudi defenses around oil facilities, airports or military bases if incorporated into Saudi command and radar networks.

Reports describe Saudi-Israeli discussions about intelligence-sharing through American military channels, but neither government has confirmed an arrangement. In September, The Jerusalem Post reported, citing a regional diplomat, that the countries had discussed intelligence assistance through US Central Command. Ynet and Israel Hayom also reported, citing diplomatic and security sources, that Israeli intelligence was reaching Saudi Arabia through American channels. What information, if any, the countries share remains unclear.

Saudi Arabia has said it won’t normalize relations with Israel without an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital. No Saudi agreement to buy Israeli missile defenses has been publicly announced, and there’s no official confirmation that negotiations are underway. A weapons purchase would require Israel to authorize exports, while some systems would also need US approval because of American involvement in their development.

Warnings and immediate risks

Reuters reported Saudi Arabia stopped issuing public warnings of imminent attacks after September 29, leaving residents without official alerts before the deadly airport strikes. Warnings later resumed, including Saudi Civil Defense alerts for Riyadh and Al-Kharj on October 14.

On October 13, debris from intercepted cruise missiles injured four people and damaged 15 homes in Riyadh, Saudi Civil Defense said. Saudi forces continue to defend widely separated sites against missiles and drones approaching from different directions, often with little warning.