Saudi Arabia appeals its allies to protect it from Yemeni missiles

SANAA, Dec. 07 (YPA) – The Wall Street Journal revealed that Saudi Arabia has appealed to the United States for urgent help with replenishing Riyadh’s missile defense weaponry, which is running dangerously low.

The Wall Street Journal quoted officials  that Saudi Arabia has asked the US to sell it hundreds of interceptors for use in the kingdom’s Patriot surface-to-air missile system.

“Saudi Arabia’s arsenal of interceptor missiles has declined seriously, and US officials appear to be about to officially approve the Saudi request to provide them with more missiles,” they said.

Despite their concerns about Saudi Arabia’s human-rights record and other issues, US officials believe they have an obligation to help the oil-rich kingdom in its own defense, especially as the US grapples with rising oil prices. A sophisticated attack in 2019 hit state-owned Aramco Oil facilities, forcing the brief suspension of some production.

“The situation worries officials in Riyadh that without an adequate stockpile of Patriot interceptors, attacks by the Yemeni armed forces could lead to significant losses or damage to vital oil infrastructure, including last January’s attacks on buildings belonging to the Royal Court,” the paper  said.

The appeal comes as attacks launched by  the Yemeni armed forces have escalated continuously in the Saudi depth.’

On today morning, Yemeni Armed Forces have carried out a large-scale offensive on the 7th of December on military and vital targets in Riyadh, Jeddah, Taif, Jizan, Najran and Asir regions, the Yemeni army spokesman said in a statement.

E.M