00:21Saudi Arabia is reportedly running dangerously low on missile interceptors,
00:26and Riyadh is now turning to Britain, France, Pakistan and Egypt for urgent air defense support.
00:34According to an Associated Press report citing two regional officials,
00:39Saudi Arabia has asked the four countries to deploy air defense systems or other support
00:45as clashes with Yemen's Houthi rebels continue.
00:48The reported request comes as Riyadh faces growing pressure
00:52to protect some of the region's most strategically important targets,
00:56including military bases, government facilities, oil installations and critical infrastructure.
01:04And behind the reported scramble is a major problem, missile interceptor supplies.
01:10Saudi Arabia's traditional security partner, the United States,
01:14has itself been drawing down missile defense stocks after months of intense conflict with Iran.
01:20That has reportedly limited Washington's ability to rapidly replenish Saudi Arabia's interceptor inventory.
01:28Now, according to the AP report, Riyadh is looking elsewhere.
01:33Britain, France, Pakistan and Egypt have all been approached for potential assistance.
01:39But there is a major caveat.
01:42The Saudi government has not publicly confirmed the reported requests.
01:46Britain has acknowledged its close defense partnership with Saudi Arabia.
01:50But British officials declined to confirm any specific request for military assistance or the deployment of British troops.
01:59Pakistan, meanwhile, reportedly told the Associated Press that it had not received a Saudi request connected to the latest Houthi
02:07escalation.
02:08There has also been no public confirmation from France or Egypt of a specific Saudi request.
02:15The reported crisis comes as tensions between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis continue to escalate.
02:22Riyadh has accused the Houthis of attempting to launch a drone toward Mecca, an accusation the Houthis have denied.
02:29Saudi officials have described any targeting of the Holy City as a red line.
02:34At the same time, Saudi Arabia is reportedly trying to build a broader regional response while keeping diplomacy on the
02:42table.
02:43Omanem and Egypt are involved in efforts aimed at preventing further escalation surrounding Yemen.
02:50But the reported interceptor shortage highlights a much larger problem.
02:54After months of missile and drone warfare across the region, air defense systems are under enormous pressure.
03:02And Saudi Arabia cannot protect every strategic target simultaneously with unlimited interceptors.
03:09For Riyadh, the stakes are enormous.
03:12Oil infrastructure, military facilities, government sites and major cities all require protection.
03:19For now, there are no confirmed reports that Britain, France, Pakistan or Egypt have actually deployed additional air defense systems
03:28in response to this reported request.
03:31But if the AP report is accurate, Saudi Arabia's outreach signals just how heavily the region's air defense networks are
03:40being tested,
03:40and how the wider Iran-Houthi conflict could be placing new pressure on America's closest Gulf partners.
03:48arms ookESSES
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