Smart move by Houthis: Saudi airspace is not safe

"You do not need a large number of missiles to disrupt air traffic, as commercial airlines certainly will not operate flights to an airport under threat," stated security and defense analyst Wolfgang Pusztai.

The decision by the Houthis to declare Saudi Arabian airspace unsafe represents a "smart move," security and defense analyst Wolfgang Pusztai told Al Jazeera. Pusztai noted that while the group's stockpiles of long-range missiles are diminishing, the Houthis still possess a significant inventory of missiles and drones to strike targets near the Yemeni border. As he explained, the Houthis are utilizing their long-range missiles "with maximum potential effectiveness," targeting civilian infrastructure such as the airport near Riyadh. "You do not need a large number of missiles to disrupt air traffic, as commercial airlines certainly will not operate flights to an airport under threat," he stated.

Pusztai estimated that Saudi Arabia will likely redeploy its own missile defense systems, backed by American and European air defense assets. However, he emphasized that the operational threat from unmanned aerial vehicles remains persistent. Finally, he mentioned that the reported downing of a Turkish-made Bayraktar drone, which the Houthis claim to have carried out, holds negligible significance at a tactical level. He warned, however, that if such losses continue, it could impair Saudi Arabia's ability to conduct reconnaissance and surveillance operations over Yemen.

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