Trump says he may consider joining Saudi Arabia in combating Iran-backed Houthis following deadly airport attack

LONDON, 12 OCTOBER 2026 —

U.S. Considers Joining Saudi Arabia in Strikes Against Houthis After Deadly Riyadh Airport Attacks

U.S. President Donald Trump has signaled a potential escalation in the Middle East by indicating that Washington may join Saudi Arabia in retaliatory strikes against Iran-backed Houthi militants, following a second deadly attack on Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport in less than a week. The move risks drawing the U.S.

into a second major front in the widening conflict with Iran, straining military resources already stretched thin by the ongoing war in Yemen and rising tensions in the Red Sea.

The latest assault—where a projectile struck the airport’s passenger terminal on Sunday—comes just days after a missile attack on the same facility killed 12 people and injured 309, according to Saudi Arabia’s official Saudi Gazette. The Houthis, who have repeatedly targeted Saudi infrastructure, renewed their warning against using Saudi airports, declaring them a "theatre of operations" for their forces.

The attacks have intensified pressure on Riyadh to seek urgent defense support from its key ally, the U.S., with Saudi officials privately urging Washington to intervene "as soon as possible" to bolster the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen.

Trump’s remarks on Saturday marked the first public indication that the U.S. could expand its involvement beyond its existing support for Saudi Arabia’s air defense systems. "We may. We’re going to look at it," Trump told reporters outside the White House, adding that the decision would be made "very quickly" following the latest Houthi strikes. The White House did not immediately respond to requests for further comment, leaving uncertainty over whether the U.S.

would approve direct military action against the Houthis—a group that has evaded previous suppression efforts under Operation Rough Rider, which concluded in May 2025.

The escalation follows a series of aggressive Houthi operations targeting Saudi Arabia’s critical infrastructure. On Thursday, three Saudi nationals, including a pilot, were killed in separate attacks on the airport. The Houthis, backed by Iran, have also sought to disrupt global energy supplies by threatening oil tanker traffic through the Bab el Mandeb Strait, a key Red Sea chokepoint.

Earlier this month, Yemeni government forces reclaimed the strategic port city of Mokha from Houthi control, but the group’s ability to launch precision strikes—such as those on Riyadh—demonstrates its resilience despite years of coalition airstrikes.

Saudi Arabia’s request for U.S. support comes as the kingdom faces mounting domestic and economic pressures. Despite the attacks, Riyadh proceeded with a major international energy conference, the WPC Energy Congress, set to begin on Sunday at a convention center near the stricken airport.

Over 70 ministers, 300 corporate executives, and representatives from more than 25 global energy organizations have confirmed attendance, though it remains unclear whether the event will proceed in person amid heightened security risks. Later this month, Saudi Arabia is also hosting the Future Investment Initiative, dubbed "Davos in the desert," further testing its ability to maintain stability amid the escalating conflict.

The potential U.S. involvement raises concerns among analysts about Washington’s military capacity to sustain multiple fronts. The Critical Threats Project, a research arm of the American Enterprise Institute, noted that any direct U.S. action against the Houthis would mark the first such operation since Operation Rough Rider ended earlier this year. "After seven months of war, there are questions about the U.S.

capacity to wage a sustained campaign against the Houthis, return to combat against Iran if necessary, and prepare for contingencies in other parts of the world, notably East Asia," wrote Steven Cook, an expert on Middle Eastern politics at the Council on Foreign Relations.

The U.K. has also signaled limited support for Saudi Arabia, with Defense Secretary Wes Streeting acknowledging in a BBC interview on Sunday that his government is "examining how to support" Riyadh.

However, Streeting ruled out offensive operations "at this stage," reiterating London’s stance that "there isn’t a military solution to this conflict." His comments reflect broader Western hesitation to fully commit to another prolonged engagement in Yemen, where the Houthis have repeatedly demonstrated adaptability in evading coalition strikes.

The latest attacks have also heightened regional energy market volatility, with global fuel prices surging since the escalation of hostilities between Israel and Iran in late February. The surge in domestic U.S. fuel costs has become a political liability ahead of next month’s midterm elections, adding urgency to Trump’s consideration of military options.

Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia’s approval of a potential $24.3 billion sale of nearly 50 F-35 warplanes—pending congressional review—underscores Riyadh’s efforts to modernize its military capabilities amid the rising threat from the Houthis.

As Trump weighs the possibility of U.S. involvement, Saudi officials have framed the Houthi attacks as a deliberate escalation requiring an immediate response. Colonel Turki Al-Maliki, spokesman for the Saudi-led coalition, condemned the latest strike as a "war crime" and vowed a "decisive" retaliation under international humanitarian law. The Houthis, however, have shown no signs of de-escalation, continuing their threats against civilian and commercial targets in Saudi Arabia.

The decision now rests with the White House, where Trump’s vague but ominous remarks suggest a rapid response may be forthcoming. If the U.S. approves direct military action, it would mark a significant shift in the Yemen conflict, potentially dragging Washington deeper into a proxy war with Iran while testing the limits of its global military commitments.