President Donald Trump stated on Saturday that the United States is evaluating the possibility of joining Saudi Arabia in military operations against Iran-backed Houthi forces. The announcement follows a lethal airstrike on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, marking the second such attack on the facility in less than a week.
Speaking to reporters outside the White House as he prepared to travel to Tennessee for a midterm election rally, Trump said, “We may. We’re going to look at it.” He emphasized that the administration was moving quickly to assess the situation and determine a response.
Saudi officials have requested “urgent defense support” from Washington, according to two government sources who spoke to MS NOW on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter. A senior official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs indicated that American intervention is needed “as soon as possible” to bolster the Saudi-led coalition’s efforts in Yemen.
The recent assault on the capital’s main airport resulted in 12 deaths and 309 injuries, according to Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation. Colonel Turki Al-Maliki, spokesperson for the Coalition to Support Legitimacy in Yemen, condemned the strike as a “war crime” and vowed a decisive response in accordance with international humanitarian law.
In the wake of the attack, Houthi militants reiterated warnings advising airlines and travelers to avoid Saudi airports, describing them as active theaters of operation. This comes after a previous attack on Thursday killed three Saudi nationals, including a pilot.
The potential escalation raises questions about U.S. military capacity given the ongoing conflict with Iran, which began with airstrikes on February 28. Steven Cook of the Council on Foreign Relations noted last month that after seven months of war, there are doubts about whether the U.S. can sustain a prolonged campaign against the Houthis while maintaining readiness for other global contingencies, particularly in East Asia.
Meanwhile, the United Kingdom is also reviewing its support for Riyadh. Defense Secretary Wes Streeting confirmed discussions with his Saudi counterpart but stated that Britain is not currently participating in offensive operations.
Despite the heightened tensions, the Saudi energy ministry confirmed that the WPC Energy Congress will proceed as scheduled in Riyadh this Sunday. The conference, hosted near the attacked airport, expects attendance from over 70 ministers and 300 company executives.
Energy prices have continued to climb due to Houthi attempts to disrupt shipping through the Bab el Mandeb strait, mirroring Iranian actions in the Strait of Hormuz. The surge in fuel costs has become a significant political issue for voters ahead of the upcoming midterm elections.
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