Meisam Mehrani, a political analyst, said the Houthi missile and drone attacks show that Saudi Arabia’s military superiority alone has not been turned into effective deterrence, and Riyadh remains vulnerable to the repetition of these attacks.

He added that air attacks by themselves cannot destroy the Houthi forces, unless their weapons network, support, and logistics are targeted and there is a sustainable strategy to contain this group. According to Mehrani, the Houthi crisis is no longer only an issue for Saudi Arabia, and to ensure security for the Bab al-Mandab and energy routes, a broader coalition is needed.