Trump Mulls Joining Saudi Strikes Against Houthis After Deadly Airport Attack
The US President stated the possibility of American involvement following an Iran-backed Houthi assault that killed one American and threatened further civilian targets.
President Trump indicated that the United States might join Saudi Arabia in retaliatory strikes against the Houthis. This consideration follows a significant attack by the Iran-backed terror group on Riyadh, which resulted in the deadliest assault on the Saudi capital in a decade and included threats against civilian areas.
A spokesperson for the Houthis stated that airports have become "a theatre of operations for our forces" and urged adherence to their warnings, while also holding Saudi Arabia accountable for any failed defensive actions. Previously, Trump had appeared to avoid direct military action against the Yemen-based group, influenced by a May cease-fire agreement where the Houthis committed to not targeting Red Sea vessels and a broader inclination to remain outside the complex, pre-existing conflict.
"We may. We’re going to look at it," Trump told reporters on Saturday when questioned about participating in strikes against the Houthis. "We just found out about the recent attack, so we’ll make a decision. We move very quickly."
He further commented, "I think it’s terrible. The Saudis are good fighters, but I think the attack was a terrible thing. We have communication with the Houthis, and we’ll see what happens. But what they did was very bad."
The potential US involvement in retaliating against the Houthis after the attack on King Khalid International Airport could broaden the ongoing Middle East conflict, which involves Iran and its proxy forces. The Houthi attack on Saturday claimed the lives of 12 individuals, including one American national, and injured over 300 people. Among the deceased were citizens of Palestine, Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Sudan, and Bangladesh.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued a statement on Saturday condemning the Houthi actions: "The United States strongly condemns the recent attacks on the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia by the terrorist Houthis. These reprehensible attacks demonstrate a blatant disregard for innocent civilian life. They must stop now. We stand with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and its people and extend our condolences to the victims and their families."
Tensions between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis have escalated significantly in recent weeks. This includes an incident last month where Riyadh reportedly intercepted a drone launched by the terror group near Mecca, an event that caused outrage across the Muslim world.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has reportedly urged Trump to take military action against the Houthis, mirroring US actions between March and May of this year.
In response to the airport attack, Saudi Arabia has carried out two airstrikes on the Yemeni capital of Sanaa, according to Houthi claims. The Houthi-run Ministry of Health has also reported that approximately 91 Yemenis have died and 168 have been injured in the Saudi-led coalition's campaign over the past five weeks.
The conflict is largely rooted in the civil war in Yemen, Saudi Arabia's southern neighbor. The Saudis support the internationally recognized Yemeni government, which is predominantly Sunni Muslim. Iran backs the Houthis, Shia Muslims who seized Sanaa in 2014. The Saudi intervention began in 2015 with the objective of restoring the Yemeni government to power, and intermittent fighting has continued since then.