Trump Administration Faces Calls to Punish Iran for Houthi Airport Strikes

The death toll from Houthi attacks on Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport has risen to over 15, including one American citizen, prompting renewed calls for the Trump administration to hold Iran accountable for its proxies' actions. The Houthis, an Iran-aligned Shiite group, show no signs of ceasing their assaults, which are seen as part of a broader Iranian strategy to pressure the United States.

Iran appears to be employing its proxy forces, like the Houthis, with two primary objectives. First, Tehran aims to indirectly pressure Washington into easing sanctions and avoiding further U.S. airstrikes by targeting American partners in the region. Second, the Houthis seek to compel Saudi Arabia to end its support for Yemen’s internationally recognized government, which is engaged in a civil war against the Houthi movement. This conflict reignited in late summer after a four-year period of relative quiet.

The recent attacks on King Khalid International Airport have halted operations until at least October 17. Yahya Saree, the Houthi military spokesman, has warned airlines to avoid Saudi airports following the latest assault. He did, however, exempt the airports and airspace of Mecca and Medina.

The Houthis escalated their attacks on Riyadh’s main airport following a counteroffensive launched by Yemen’s internationally recognized government, with Saudi backing, on October 5. This counteroffensive came after the Houthis had seized Yemen's entire Red Sea coast, including the strategic Bab al-Mandeb strait, in mid-September—an advance Yemeni forces and Saudi Arabia aim to reverse.

This was not the first Houthi strike on Saudi aviation. In July and August, the group attacked Abha and Najran International Airports in southern Saudi Arabia. These were described as retaliatory strikes after Saudi Arabia targeted the airport in Sanaa, the Houthi-controlled capital of Yemen, to prevent an Iranian plane carrying IRGC commanders from landing.

Intelligence suggests the Houthis are utilizing Iranian weapons for these assaults, applying tactics honed over years of attacks against Saudi Arabia and Israel. An initial Saudi investigation indicates that the attack on King Khalid on Saturday involved a swarm of drones overwhelming air defenses, creating an opening for subsequent cruise and ballistic missile strikes.

The Houthis' ballistic missile arsenal consists of replicas of Iranian short- and medium-range missiles, heavily relying on Iranian technology and components. This strategy mirrors Iran's approach of manufacturing weapons that are inexpensive to produce but costly for adversaries to intercept. Iran also supports Houthi efforts to develop indigenous weapons production capabilities, with the group diversifying its supply chain and increasing domestic manufacturing, often using dual-use technologies from China for drones.

The Houthi military operations have been sustained by Iran's consistent backing for over a decade, enabling the group to build an arsenal comparable to those of some European militaries. The Houthis control a significant portion of Yemen's population, which they leverage to sustain their military efforts.

While the Houthis have largely focused their attacks on Yemeni forces and Saudi Arabia, thus avoiding direct U.S. military intervention, the strike on Riyadh’s international airport and the death of an American citizen may represent a critical escalation. President Trump has stated that "the Houthis are behaving very badly."

Analysts argue that the U.S. cannot afford a passive stance in response to Houthi aggression. They advocate for increased U.S. support to Saudi Arabia and Yemen's internationally recognized government forces to counter the Houthi advance. When the current escalation began in July, President Trump stated that "the US will hold Iran responsible" for Houthi attacks on Saudi tankers. This accountability, proponents argue, must now extend to all Houthi attacks, preventing Tehran from using its proxies to sow chaos without consequence. The strategy of maximum pressure against Iran, they contend, should be mirrored against the Houthis to prevent Tehran from continuing to use them as a weapon against the United States and its partners.