Saudi Arabia seeks allied air defense help amid Houthi attacks

Saudi Arabia has requested air defense support from France, Britain, Pakistan, and Egypt as it faces a shortage of missile interceptors amid escalating attacks by Yemen's Houthi rebels, according to regional officials. The request comes as the United States, Saudi Arabia's primary military ally, has declined direct intervention in the conflict, offering only intelligence sharing and planning support. The latest tensions escalated after Saudi authorities said its air defenses intercepted and destroyed a drone near the holy city of Mecca on September 15. Saudi Arabia declared the attempted attack a "red line," while the Houthis denied targeting Mecca, stating their operations are directed at Saudi oil facilities and military positions away from Islamic holy sites. The conflict has placed Saudi Arabia in a difficult position, requiring the protection of military bases, government facilities, and critical oil infrastructure spread across the kingdom. A major East-West oil pipeline was shut down for weeks following an attack attributed to Iranian-backed militias in Iraq, disrupting a key route for crude exports that bypasses the Strait of Hormuz.