SAEDNEWS: Riyadh has activated its inaugural U.S.‑supplied THAAD missile batteries, aiming to bolster air‑defence amid continuing tensions with Iran and Yemen.
According to Saed News, Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Defense announced on July 3 that it has deployed the first group of American Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) systems on Saudi soil. Citing Asharq Al‑Awsat, Mehr News Agency reports that the inauguration took place at the Air Defense Forces Research Center in Jeddah Province, following extensive on‑site training programmes.
Designed to intercept short‑ and medium‑range ballistic threats, THAAD is intended to shield the kingdom’s strategic assets from missile attacks emanating from Iran and Houthi‑controlled regions of Yemen. In its official statement, Riyadh emphasised that the deployment forms part of a broader effort to strengthen national air‑defence capabilities and safeguard key infrastructure against escalating regional hostilities.
However, Newsweek has documented several high‑profile THAAD interception failures against Iranian and Yemeni missile salvos targeting Israeli territory—raising questions about its reliability under combat conditions. The U.S. magazine further disclosed that Washington expended nearly 20 percent of its global THAAD missile inventory in recent operations to support Israel amid waves of retaliatory strikes.
The Saudi decision to field THAAD reflects both the kingdom’s strategic calculus and its deepening security ties with Washington. While the system’s real‑world performance remains contested, Riyadh’s move signals its determination to pre‑empt spill‑over from the broader Iran‑Israel conflict and project an image of robust regional deterrence.
