The Iranian-backed Houthi rebels of Yemen are repeatedly targeting strategic infrastructure facilities, such as airports and oil refineries, in Saudi Arabia. Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud (popularly known as MbS), the Saudi Crown Prince, has requested US President Donald John Trump to save his country. However, Washington DC remains unperturbed.

The Crown Prince is facing a severe security crisis as Yemeni rebels have intensified their attacks on Saudi Arabia. The Wall Street Journal has reported that the 41-year-old MbS, who has not been seen in public even once since October 6, 2026, has taken shelter in a bunker.

It may be noted that the Crown Prince has an expansive network of luxurious royal residences scattered across the Kingdom, serving both as official administrative hubs and highly secure private retreats. Although MbS prefers to live in a dazzling Royal Palace with the other members of his family, the growing risk of Houthi attacks has prompted him to move to a secret bunker. According to sources, a specially trained force is responsible for his security there.

The US has deployed a large military force and defence equipment in Saudi Arabia to protect the Kingdom from attacks by external enemies. However, Riyadh alleges that Washington DC shows little urgency in intercepting and destroying enemy missiles or drones mid-air during such attacks. In fact, the US stance toward the Houthis is under intense scrutiny, as the Trump Administration balances aggressive rhetoric with a distinct reluctance to engage in another direct ground or air campaign in West Asia.

Currently, the US has stationed two state-of-the-art Air Defence Systems – the Patriot and the Terminal High Altitude Area Defence (THAAD) – in Saudi Arabia. However, both the Patriot and the THAAD have failed to intercept any of the attacks carried out by the Houthis in recent times. Defence analysts are of the opinion that the US is gradually withdrawing its support from Saudi Arabia in the current situation and MbS is paying a heavy price for this. Ever since the Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia began, the Crown Prince has been urging President Trump to intervene militarily. Although MbS enjoys a good personal rapport with the US President, Washington DC remains hesitant to engage directly in a war against the Yemeni rebels.

Meanwhile, Israel is planning to completely wipe out the Houthis through airstrikes. To receive assistance from Tel Aviv, Riyadh would have to grant the Israeli Air Force permission to use the Saudi airspace. However, it is extremely difficult for MbS to grant official approval, given religious considerations. Such a move could trigger a civil war and the Crown Prince might even end up losing his throne.

Saudi Arabia has not yet formally recognised the Jewish State. Consequently, there are no diplomatic relations between the two countries. On the contrary, Riyadh has supported Palestine from day one for religious reasons. The Saudi leadership has also been heard repeatedly speaking of wiping Israel out of existence. Hence, it is quite difficult for Riyadh to join hands with Tel Aviv to destroy the Houthis. For the time being, the Saudi Crown Prince has no choice but to wait for military aid from the US.

Meanwhile,

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Published by Koushik Das

Koushik Das (born on May 16, 1976 in Kolkata) is a career journalist. Based in the Indian capital of New Delhi, Koushik writes mainly about foreign policies and current geopolitical issues, and rarely about other topics. His own political ideas are highly influenced by Antonio Gramsci, Louis Althusser, Michel Foucault, Michael Oakeshott and others. English philosopher and political theorist Oakeshott (Dec 11, 1901-Dec 19, 1990) says that “in political activity, men sail a boundless and bottomless sea. There is neither harbour for shelter nor floor for anchorage, neither starting-place, nor appointed destination. But we have to keep afloat”. (Rationalism in Politics, 1962) As a student of Political Science, Koushik loves to share his views on issues, which have great impacts on his thought process (and also on India, South Asia and of course on the global community), with his readers through his website – Boundless Ocean of Politics. By doing so, he tries to keep himself afloat. You will find some of his articles in https://inserbia.info/today/ (https://inserbia.info/today/author/kou_das13_i/), as he has been trying to assess the global geopolitics since 2003. You can also mail him at kousdas@gmail.com View all posts by Koushik Das