Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia: attack on bin Salman's vision

Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia Attack on bin Salman's vision As of: October 21, 2026 • 4:35 p.m

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman wants to open Saudi Arabia to tourists and investors. But his “Vision 2030” is in danger: the Houthi attacks are destroying the image of security and stability.

The images are like something out of a nightmare: a surveillance camera video shows Muslim pilgrims standing in line at the terminal at Riyadh's international airport. Suddenly an explosion, bright light fills the entire screen. Then almost only smoke can be seen. At the edge of the picture you can just see a few people falling to the ground, then the video stops.

The images are in stark contrast to the "Vision 2030" formulated by Saudi Arabia's crown prince and de facto ruler Mohammed bin Salman: the vision of a modern Saudi Arabia that attracts tourists, companies and investors, hosts major international events and guarantees security and prosperity for locals and foreigners.

Instead: a country at war with a fanatical militia that has declared Saudi Arabia's airports and oil facilities as targets. Since the beginning of October, there have been 18 deaths at the airport in Saudi Arabia's capital Riyadh alone, plus more than 300 injuries - according to the official figures.

It is quite possible that there are other victims. The kingdom probably has little interest in continuously informing the world public about this. However, the Houthi militia, which claims responsibility for the attacks and boasts about it, is completely different.

The day after the most devastating attack, the World Oil Congress began in Riyadh, which Germany's Economics Minister Katherina Reiche also took part in. She had already arrived before this attack, but others canceled at short notice, including the heads of Exxon, Shell, Total and BP. Saudi Arabia suggested that its guests arrive via the city of Dammam - shortly afterwards the Houthis also shelled this airport.

The conflict between Saudi Arabia and Houthis continues to intensify: An attack in Riyadh left many dead and injured. more

The latest attacks represent a new level of escalation in a conflict that began in 2004 with an uprising by the radical Islamic Houthis against the Yemeni government and expanded from 2015 through direct intervention by Saudi Arabia.

There was already massive criticism of Crown Prince bin Salman. The then only 29-year-old had just entered the world political stage when he was already steering his country into a "military adventure" in the neighboring country, it was said.

Over the years, the war in Yemen has resulted in hundreds of thousands of deaths and millions forced to flee their homes. To date, almost half of the population suffers from food insecurity.

The war threatens shipping, destroys livelihoods and intensifies the dispute over the future of Yemen. more

Years of air strikes and a still ongoing naval blockade have not changed the fact that the Houthis control large parts of the country, including the capital Sanaa. Rather, it was war weariness on all sides that led to the situation calming down from 2022 onwards.

That's over now. In July this year, Saudi Arabia attacked Sanaa airport as a Houthi delegation was returning from a trip to Iran to visit its closest ally.

The Iran-backed Houthi militia attacked Saudi Arabian oil tankers in the Red Sea. more

Since then, the Houthis have been fighting back, according to the principle of “airport by airport, escalation by escalation,” according to their spokesman. They are also celebrating military successes in their own country and have expanded their zone of influence to the entire west coast of Yemen.

They are also fighting for control of the Bab al-Mandab strait, which is important for world trade - and especially for Saudi Arabia. And what's more, they spread fear and terror in the neighboring country through their constant attacks.

For bin Salman and his country, it is the “worst case scenario,” says Sebastian Sons from the Middle East think tank CARPO (Center for Applied Research in Partnership with the Orient). The “Vision 2030” is coming under massive pressure from the Houthis: “The attacks are also a threat to the new Saudi business model.”

His promise for the future made bin Salman particularly popular with the young population: "He presents himself as a kind of modernization manager and wants to give the younger generations in particular new opportunities that did not exist in the country."

The situation in Yemen is more tense than it has been for years. more

Now the Crown Prince is reportedly also fearing for his own life: According to media reports, he spent the days after the serious airport attack primarily in palaces that have bunkers, changing his location again and again, accompanied by a security team. He wants to show strength with heavy air strikes on Sanaa and other areas controlled by the Houthis.

But the conflict cannot be solved that way, says Middle East expert Sons: "The Houthis have not been defeated militarily, and I now consider such a scenario to be very unlikely." Rather, Saudi Arabia needs partners to make its claim as a leading power among Muslim countries clear and to "manage" the conflict diplomatically, said Sons.

Any attack on one of the countries should now be considered an attack on all three alliance partners. more

In fact, Saudi Arabia has gathered many partners around itself in recent weeks and months. Bin Salman only founded the so-called Mecca Defense Pact with Turkey and Pakistan in August. Both countries pledged their support to Saudi Arabia in its defense against the Houthis, as did Egypt and now Great Britain.

However, only Iran probably has direct influence on the militia. He is also at war with the USA and Israel. It is possible that Iran is playing into the escalation on the Arabian Peninsula and is hoping to gain a better position in negotiations with its own war opponents.

The start of the Iran War was already a shock for Saudi Arabia. Iranian attacks, especially on US bases in the Gulf and in other US-allied countries, called into question the external image of security and stability.

The Houthi attacks are another, even more severe setback for the Saudis and their crown prince. The attacks on oil facilities target the most important pillar of its economic strength - the extraction and export of oil. And the attacks on airports hit another sore point: the planned future as an international hub and attraction.

This topic in the program: The First | ARD lunchtime magazine | Oct 12, 2026 | 12:00 p.m