Trump Signals Potential US Support for Saudi Strikes on Houthi Targets
The President suggested the U.S. could join Saudi Arabia in retaliatory strikes following recent airport attacks attributed to the Iran-backed militia.
President Donald Trump stated on Saturday that the United States might participate in Saudi Arabia's strikes against the Houthi militia in Yemen, following a series of airport attacks that resulted in casualties and significant disruption.
The announcement came shortly after a missile struck Terminals 3 and 4 of King Khalid International Airport (KKIA) in Riyadh. While the Houthis have claimed responsibility for earlier attacks on the airport this week, they did not immediately claim this latest strike. These incidents have led to a near-complete shutdown of public air traffic into and out of the capital.
The recent attacks began days after Yemen’s Saudi-backed government launched a major offensive against the Houthis on October 4. Earlier in the week, an attack on the Abha International Airport killed two women, one Algerian and one Moroccan, and an assault on KKIA resulted in the death of a Sudanese man, according to Saudi civil aviation authorities. On Thursday, Houthi military spokesperson Brigadier General Yahya Saree claimed responsibility for another strike on KKIA that killed three Saudi citizens, including a pilot.
The victims of these attacks have primarily been Saudi nationals, with others from Algeria, Bangladesh, Egypt, Morocco, Pakistan, the Philippines, and Sudan.
Maj. Gen. Turki al-Malki, a spokesperson for the Saudi-led coalition, stated on Friday that the attacks would not go unpunished. Airport strikes have become a recognizable tactic for the Houthis; Human Rights Watch previously denounced a similar attack on Abha in 2019 as an apparent war crime.
General Saree reiterated warnings for international airlines and passengers to avoid Saudi airspace, which was declared an open military operations zone on Monday. He also cautioned employees to avoid Saudi oil facilities, which he identified as primary targets.
The General Authority of Civil Aviation announced on Saturday that Riyadh had suspended operations at its main airport and was assessing damage. FlightAware reported approximately 400 flight cancellations into and out of KKIA by Saturday evening. The U.S. Embassy in Riyadh issued a security alert advising Americans to avoid KKIA and its vicinity, recommending that citizens verify flight statuses directly with airlines and the airport due to potential disruptions.
These airport attacks are the latest in escalating threats to air travel and shipping in the region. In July, the Houthis accused Saudi Arabia of bombing Sanaa International Airport. Yemen's Saudi-backed government claimed responsibility, stating its objective was to prevent an Iranian plane from landing. In response, the Houthis declared they would impose a naval blockade on Saudi Arabia.
Last month, the Houthis captured the port city of Mokha and Perim Island, aiming to control the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. This move, alongside disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz due to U.S.-Iran tensions, could exacerbate the global oil crisis. While Saudi-backed forces have claimed to retake these areas, control remains disputed.
In September, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman reportedly urged President Trump to take action against the Houthis. Despite this, Washington had previously stated it had no plans to intervene in the conflict.
Trump's renewed consideration of strikes in Yemen comes as an AP-NORC poll from October 1 indicated that 69% of Americans believe the war with Iran has not been worth fighting. On Thursday, Trump pledged that the U.S. would not attack Iran before the November 3 midterm elections, a statement that did not address potential strikes on the Houthis in Yemen.