US Withdraws Patriot Missile System from Saudi Arabia, Riyadh Shows Its Strength

RIYADH – The Riyadh military showed its strength after the United States (US) withdrew its Patriot and THAAD missile defense systems from Saudi Arabia. To prove it, the kingdom’s military has shot down around 17 armed drones launched by Yemen’s Houthi rebels in one day.

Washington on Friday last week said it was reducing the number of troops and air defense units deployed to the Middle East, including the Patriot missile defense system battery and THAAD, from Saudi Arabia.

Also read: Saudi Arabia Targets, 17 Houthi Drones Destroyed

“This will not affect Saudi air defenses,” said Saudi military official Turki al-Maliki, who is also a spokesman for the Saudi-led Coalition.

“We have a strong understanding with… our allies of the threats in the region. We do have the ability to defend our country,” he said.

The withdrawal of US troops, fighter jets and missile defense systems from Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Kuwait and Iraq comes as President Joe Biden’s administration seeks to defuse tensions with Iran.

Maliki did not reveal how many Patriot system batteries the kingdom currently has.

In April, Greece said it would lend Patriot system batteries to Saudi Arabia to protect its critical energy infrastructure.

Saudi Arabia, which has led a military coalition against Yemen’s Houthis since 2015, relies heavily on the US-made Patriot missile defense system to intercept missiles and drones fired at the kingdom almost daily by Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi rebels.

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