Trump weighs joining the fight against Houthis after Saudi capital’s airport is struck again

Riyadh Airport Hit as Saudi Arabia Faces Escalating Houthi Attacks

Bdbusinessdaily.com – Saudi Arabia suspended operations at Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport on Saturday after a missile struck an area containing terminals 3 and 4, intensifying concern over a widening conflict involving the Iran-backed Houthi movement in neighbouring Yemen.

The attack wounded a number of people, a regional official said. The official spoke anonymously because they were not permitted to discuss the incident publicly. Saudi civil aviation authorities said they were assessing the scale of damage and injuries while airport operations remained halted until midnight under a notice issued to pilots.

The airport complex was heavily secured after the strike. Entrances were closed, police were deployed around the site and lighting in the surrounding area was reduced. Flight-tracking data showed aircraft being redirected to other airports, while FlightAware recorded at least 291 cancelled Riyadh flights over the preceding 24 hours.

Trump considers a possible US role

President Donald Trump said Washington was considering whether to take part in Saudi military action against the Houthis. His comments came after repeated attacks on Saudi infrastructure and airfields during a sharp rise in regional tensions.

“We may. We’re going to look at it. We just found out about the recent attack. So we’ll make a decision. We move very quickly.”

The Houthis had already claimed responsibility for earlier attacks this week on King Khalid International Airport, where three Saudis, including a pilot, were killed. The rebels did not immediately issue a statement concerning Saturday’s missile strike.

Earlier on Saturday, the Houthis accused Saudi Arabia of attacking Sanaa International Airport in Yemen’s Houthi-controlled capital. The competing claims underline how quickly the confrontation has expanded beyond front-line positions in Yemen and into major transport and civilian infrastructure hubs.

Air travel disruption spreads

Several governments, including those of the United States, Britain, Germany, Australia and Canada, advised their citizens to stay away from Riyadh airport. Airlines had already begun adjusting their Saudi operations before the latest strike.

Air India, FlyDubai, Lufthansa Group and Pakistan International Airlines were among carriers that had paused flights to and from Riyadh and other Saudi airports for different periods. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency also widened its guidance for Saudi airspace, pointing to the Houthis’ demonstrated ability to hit targets far inside the kingdom and their growing attention to aviation facilities.

The Houthi movement warned international airlines this week, describing Saudi airspace as an area of military operations and cautioning carriers about continued flights. For travellers, the immediate consequence is likely to be further cancellations, diversions and uncertainty while authorities review the security situation.

Conflict moves onto a broader regional stage

The strike is part of an unusual series of attacks confronting Saudi Arabia, the world’s leading oil exporter, as it pursues a new military campaign against the Houthis. A Saudi-led coalition began a major offensive roughly a week ago, providing air support to Yemeni government forces seeking to reverse recent Houthi advances along the Red Sea coast.

Those territorial gains gave the Houthis improved visibility over a maritime route that offers an important alternative to the Strait of Hormuz. Iran has attacked ships in the Strait of Hormuz during the wider conflict, adding to fears that commercial shipping could face pressure across more than one strategic waterway.

The Houthis have said they are targeting Saudi shipping in retaliation for a blockade imposed on them. However, anxiety persists that attacks could broaden further. The group previously struck other vessels after the Gaza war began, framing those actions as support for Palestinians. A US bombing campaign later significantly reduced those operations.

Saudi strikes and Houthi missile and drone launches have now placed aviation, oil infrastructure, military sites and shipping routes at the centre of the confrontation. Markets have been unsettled by the attacks, particularly because of Saudi Arabia’s pivotal role in global energy supplies. Even so, the Saudi energy ministry continued promoting a major international energy conference scheduled to open in Riyadh on Sunday, only hours after the airport attack.

Air-defence pressure and diplomatic efforts

Saudi Arabia has been drawing down its supply of missile interceptors as it counters incoming threats. Regional officials said last month that Riyadh had asked France, Britain, Pakistan and Egypt to provide air-defence support in the area. One official noted that US interceptor stocks had also declined during the war with Iran.

US support for the current Saudi offensive has included intelligence sharing, assistance identifying targets and operational planning, officials have said. Any decision by Washington to take a direct military role would therefore mark a further step in an already close security partnership.

Saudi authorities have also urged the public not to share material connected to missile and drone interceptions or impact locations. This week, officials warned that filming, publishing or circulating such information could create legal liability.

Alongside the military escalation, Saudi Arabia has signalled support for efforts to reduce tensions. Its foreign minister spoke by telephone on Saturday with Oman’s foreign minister, and both sides stressed the importance of diplomatic solutions. Oman, located across the Strait of Hormuz from Iran, has periodically acted as a regional mediator.

For now, Riyadh’s airport strike illustrates the expanding reach of the Yemen conflict and the difficulty of shielding major civilian infrastructure from missiles and drones. The next decisions by Saudi Arabia, the Houthis and the United States could shape whether the crisis remains concentrated around Yemen or develops into an even broader regional confrontation.