Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is reportedly moving between heavily guarded palaces equipped with bunkers in Riyadh as Yemen's Houthis intensify their missile and drone attacks on the Saudi capital.
The kingdom's de facto ruler has not been seen in public since last Tuesday and is travelling between fortified royal residences accompanied by a handpicked security team, according to the Wall Street Journal.
The reported movements come as the Houthis continue to bombard Riyadh with drones, cruise missiles and ballistic missiles, forcing the closure of King Khalid International Airport until 17 October following repeated strikes.
On Saturday, a ballistic missile struck one of the airport's terminals, killing 13 people and injuring hundreds. Another missile hit the airport on Sunday, killing one person, while four others were killed in attacks on Wednesday and Thursday.
The strikes have raised concerns over Saudi Arabia's ability to defend its capital, amid reports that the kingdom is running low on interceptor missiles used to shoot down incoming ballistic and cruise missiles.
According to the Wall Street Journal, Saudi Arabia's air defence stockpiles have been depleted by repeated attacks, leaving the kingdom increasingly vulnerable to further strikes.
Saudi Arabia, like much of the region, has expended large quantities of interceptor missiles defending against Iranian ballistic and cruise missiles launched following the outbreak of the US-Israeli war on Iran.
Saudi air defences under strain
Dr Burcu Ozcelik, a senior research fellow at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), told The New Arab that Saudi Arabia faced significant challenges in countering Houthi attacks, particularly low-flying drones and cruise missiles that are harder to detect.
The kingdom's dwindling stockpile of interceptor missiles has further complicated its defensive efforts.
"It would be a mistake to say the Kingdom’s air defence systems are failing completely, they are under strain and stretched. But there are also reports of successful interceptions," Ozcelik said.
A report by the Associated Press in September revealed that Saudi officials had asked Britain, France, Pakistan and Egypt to deploy air defence systems to the country amid concerns over dwindling interceptor stocks.
The US has also deployed additional Patriot missile defence systems to Saudi Arabia and Qatar to protect energy infrastructure, according to Axios.
Other countries, including Greece, Britain and France, have provided air defence support, while Turkey and Pakistan, both partners in the Mecca Defence Pact, are also assisting Riyadh.
Ozcelik said Saudi Arabia was facing an asymmetric threat similar to tactics previously employed by Iran and its regional allies during the wider conflict.
Iran launched thousands of ballistic missiles and drones across the region, including against Gulf states, striking energy facilities and US military bases.
"What we are seeing is the familiar playbook the IRGC used against the Gulf - even a small number of missile or drones that gets through sophisticated air defences can create disproportionate damage and disruption," Ozcelik said.
"That's the asymmetric warfare logic that is working to the Houthis advantage."
Saudi Arabia vows decisive response
The Saudi-led coalition fighting the Houthis has vowed to "respond decisively" to the attacks, having already resumed its air campaign against the group in support of Yemeni government offensives.
The renewed Saudi-led air campaign preceded the latest escalation in Houthi attacks on Saudi airports, with the group initially concentrating its strikes on energy infrastructure.
The repeated attacks have heightened security concerns in the Saudi capital, with the reported movements of Mohammed bin Salman between fortified palaces highlighting the growing pressure on the kingdom's leadership as the conflict intensifies.