Trump Evaluates Joining Saudi Arabia in Attacks on Houthis After Deadly Riyadh Airport Strike
Yemen’s Houthi militants launched a missile attack on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on Saturday, killing 12 people and injuring 309 others, according to the Saudi civil aviation authority. The strike—the third targeting the aviation hub that week and the deadliest in the kingdom in over a decade—sparked an immediate military evaluation from the United States and triggered a surge in regional defense responses.
Casualties and Airport Disruption
The victims killed in Saturday’s strike included four Saudi citizens, two Bangladeshi nationals, and one resident each from the United States, Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Palestine, and Sudan, the Saudi civil aviation authority reported. The Saudi civil aviation authority reported that 309 people were wounded, with some victims rushed to hospitals by ambulance and helicopter in critical condition. Airport operations were temporarily suspended while safety inspections were conducted and property damage was assessed, forcing approximately 580 flight cancellations by Sunday according to tracking data. An eyewitness described seeing a part of the ceiling near a departure gate collapse after hearing an explosion.
Trump Evaluates Joining Saudi Air Campaign Against Houthis
US President Donald Trump described the strike as “terrible” and stated he was evaluating whether Washington should join Saudi Arabia’s air campaign against the Houthis, telling reporters, We may. We’re gonna look at it. We just found out about the recent attack, so we’ll make a decision. We’ll move very quickly.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed on X that an American citizen was among the dead, condemning the assault as a demonstration of a blatant disregard for innocent civilian life.
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres and UN Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg both issued statements condemning the attack as a grave escalation and a violation of international law. Additional condemnations came from Egypt, Qatar, Palestine, and Japan, with Qatar and Palestine voicing support for all measures taken by Riyadh to safeguard its sovereignty.
Saudi Arabia Activates Mecca Defense Pact After Attacks
The strike occurred as fighting intensified between the Houthis and Saudi-backed government forces in Yemen, where the Iran-aligned group has stepped up missile and drone attacks. The Houthis claimed additional missile and drone strikes targeting an Aramco refinery in Rabigh, Abha International Airport, and a military base in Khamis Mushait, according to reports. In response to the escalating cross-border threat, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Türkiye activated the Mecca defense pact during an emergency meeting in Riyadh to coordinate rapid military deployment capabilities, according to the Saudi Press Agency.
