U.S. President Donald Trump stated on Saturday that he is considering joining Saudi Arabia in retaliatory strikes against Iran-backed Houthi forces in Yemen. The comment followed a deadly attack on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, which authorities say killed 12 people and injured 309 others.
Speaking to reporters outside the White House, Trump said, “We may. We’re going to look at it.” He added that while the administration had just learned of the incident, the U.S. moves quickly and would make a decision soon. The remarks suggest Washington could open a second front in the broader conflict with Iran.
Saudi officials have requested “urgent defense support” from the United States following the assault, according to two Saudi government sources who spoke to MS NOW on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter. A senior member of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs indicated that American intervention is needed “as soon as possible” to assist the Saudi-led coalition fighting the Houthis. The White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The strike marks the second deadly attack on the Riyadh airport in less than a week. On Thursday, Houthi militants killed three Saudi nationals, including a pilot, in a previous assault on the facility. Colonel Turki Al-Maliki, spokesman for the Coalition to Support Legitimacy in Yemen, condemned the recent attack as a “war crime” and vowed a decisive response in accordance with international humanitarian law.
In the aftermath of the bombing, the Houthis issued a renewed warning advising airlines, workers, and travelers to avoid Saudi airports, citing them as vulnerable targets and active theaters of operations. They exempted only the airports in Mecca and Medina from this advisory.
Saudi Arabia, a key U.S. ally in the Middle East, launched its intervention in Yemen’s civil war in 2014 after the Houthis seized the capital, Sanaa. Last month, the Trump administration approved a potential $24.3 billion sale of nearly 50 F-35 fighter jets to Riyadh, a move intended to bolster the kingdom’s defenses amid escalating Houthi attacks. The sale remains under congressional review.
Despite the security concerns, Saudi Arabia’s energy ministry confirmed that the five-day World Petroleum Council Energy Congress will proceed as scheduled in Riyadh on Sunday. The event, held at a convention center near the attacked airport, has drawn more than 70 ministers, 300 corporate executives, and representatives from over 25 international energy organizations. It remains unclear whether attendees will participate in person or virtually.
Beyond aviation, Houthi militants have been attempting to disrupt oil tanker traffic through the Bab el Mandeb strait, a critical maritime chokepoint connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden. This mirrors Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz to the north. Earlier this month, Yemeni government forces claimed to have reclaimed the strategic port city of Mokha from Houthi control.
Energy prices have surged since the onset of the Iran war in February, which began with U.S. and Israeli airstrikes on Iranian targets. The spike in domestic fuel costs has become a significant issue for American voters ahead of next month’s midterm elections.
Analysts have raised questions about the feasibility of expanded U.S. military involvement. Steven Cook of the Council on Foreign Relations noted last month that after seven months of conflict, doubts remain regarding America’s capacity to sustain a campaign against the Houthis while maintaining readiness for contingencies in other regions, particularly East Asia.
The United Kingdom is also reviewing its role in the crisis. British Defense Secretary Wes Streeting told BBC Television on Sunday that he has been in contact with his Saudi counterpart, Khalid bin Salman, to explore additional support measures. However, Streeting emphasized that the UK is not currently participating in offensive operations, stating that there is “no military solution to this conflict.”
Saudi Arabia really needs to tighten airport security if this keeps happening repeatedly.
I just want gas prices to go down, not up. This escalates everything.
How is the energy congress still happening? People died nearby. Bold move or total disregard for safety.
Killed twelve people at an airport. Something has to be done, but war isn’t the only answer.
Another front? I hope the Pentagon remembers we’re already stretched thin in East Asia.