A deadly missile strike on Saudi Arabia’s King Khalid International Airport has intensified regional tensions, prompting President Donald Trump to consider joining Saudi military operations against Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen.
Missile Attack on Riyadh Airport
Early Sunday, Saudi civil aviation authorities said that the latest attack on Riyadh’s international airport killed 12 people and injured more than 300, with some victims in critical condition, reported AP News.
The dead included a U.S. citizen and nationals of Saudi Arabia, Bangladesh, Egypt, Jordan, Palestine, Syria and Sudan.
A missile struck an airport complex housing terminals 3 and 4, which serve domestic flights, a regional official told The AP.
The Saudi authorities and the Saudi-led coalition blamed the Iran-backed Houthis for the attack, calling the strike a “fully-fledged war crime” and vowing a firm response.
The attack followed a series of Houthi strikes on Saudi airports, military facilities and oil infrastructure after a Saudi-led coalition launched a major offensive against the rebels.
Trump Weighs US Strikes Against Iran-Backed Houthis
On Saturday, Trump said he was considering U.S. involvement in Saudi strikes against the rebels.
“We may. We’re going to look at it,” Trump told reporters. “We just found out about the recent attack. So we’ll make a decision. We move very quickly.”
He later said he planned to speak with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and said, “What happened in Saudi Arabia is not acceptable.”
Secretary of State Marco Rubio condemned the strike after confirming an American citizen had been killed.
“These reprehensible attacks demonstrate a blatant disregard for innocent civilian life. They must stop now,” he said.
Iran, Houthis Escalate Attack
Late Wednesday, Iran and Iran-aligned Houthi forces carried out separate attacks in the region, including an attack on a tanker near Qatar and Houthi strikes targeting Saudi Arabia.
The attacks threatened oil shipments near the Strait of Hormuz and Bab al-Mandeb Strait, while Obsidian Risk Advisors Managing Principal Brett Erickson warned that disruptions to ship-to-ship oil transfers could severely affect regional oil flows.
Saudi Arabia Weighed Houthi Offensive
Earlier this month, Saudi Arabia explored a military offensive against Iran-backed Houthi militants in Yemen to secure the strategic Bab el-Mandeb shipping route as the U.S.-Iran conflict disrupted regional oil and shipping routes.
Last month, Crown Prince reportedly sought U.S. military assistance, but Trump declined direct strikes and offered intelligence support.
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
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