U.S. Embassy Warns of Danger at Saudi Airports After Houthi Strikes Kill 13

The U.S. embassy in Saudi Arabia issued a warning on Monday for American citizens to exercise “extreme caution” when utilizing major airports across the Kingdom. The advisory follows a weekend of Houthi rebel attacks that resulted in 13 deaths, including one U.S. citizen.

In a statement, the U.S. Mission confirmed awareness of further assaults on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh and a targeted strike on King Fahd International Airport in Dammam on October 11. Officials urged travelers to take necessary precautions given the escalating violence.

The warning comes just one day after a missile struck the passenger terminal at King Khalid International Airport, killing 12 individuals. Saudi authorities reported that a Pakistani national was killed and 11 others were injured in a subsequent projectile strike on Sunday. The airport, which has been hit four times in the past five days, remained closed following the initial deadliest attack in a Gulf Arab nation since the Iran war began.

President Donald Trump indicated on Saturday that the United States is considering joining Saudi Arabia’s military offensive against the Iran-backed Houthi militia. Speaking to reporters as he departed the White House for a campaign event in Tennessee, Trump stated, “We may. We’re gonna look at it.” He emphasized that the administration would make a decision quickly regarding potential strikes.

When asked if the attack on Riyadh’s airport would alter his previous stance on delaying strikes against Iran until after the midterm elections, Trump added, “Well, we’re gonna take a look.” While the Houthis claimed responsibility for the recent terminal strikes, Saudi Arabia’s aviation authority attributed the attacks to a “continued” campaign against civil aviation facilities in the Kingdom.

Simultaneously, U.S. Central Command announced that American forces disabled a Panama-flagged commercial vessel in the Gulf of Oman on Saturday. A fighter jet fired a precision munition at the ship, known as the Ocean Molica or Arika Sun, disabling its propulsion system without injuring the crew. The vessel had recently departed from an Iranian port.

Iranian ports have been subject to a U.S. naval blockade since a ceasefire between the two nations collapsed in July. According to CENTCOM, U.S. forces have disabled four commercial ships and redirected 135 vessels since the blockade began on July 14. Additionally, 10 tankers believed to be part of a “shadow fleet” transporting sanctioned Iranian oil and petroleum products have been destroyed during this period.