Trump Mulls Joining Saudi Arabia in Houthi Retaliation After Deadly Airport Attack

President Donald Trump stated that he is contemplating joining Saudi Arabia in its response to the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen, following a fatal attack on Riyadh's primary airport. This potential U.S. involvement could escalate American engagement into a second theater of the conflict with Iran.

"We may. We're going to look at it," Trump informed reporters outside the White House on Saturday when questioned about potential U.S. backing for Saudi strikes. "We just found out about the recent attack. So, we'll make a decision. We move very quickly."

Two Saudi Arabian government officials disclosed to MS NOW that the kingdom is seeking "urgent defense support" from the U.S. in the aftermath of the attacks. These officials, including a senior figure from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs who requested anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the matter, emphasized the need for the U.S. to intervene "as soon as possible" to aid the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen against the Houthis.

The White House has not yet provided an immediate comment to CNBC's request.

On Sunday, a projectile hit a passenger terminal at Riyadh's airport, marking the second such incident in as many days. A missile had struck the same terminal the previous day. While immediate details regarding the latest strike at King Khalid International Airport's domestic terminals 3 and 4 were not available, the Associated Press reported on the events.

The Saudi General Authority of Civil Aviation reported that Saturday's attack on King Khalid International Airport resulted in 12 fatalities and 309 injuries, according to the official Saudi Gazette.

Colonel Turki Al-Maliki, spokesperson for the Saudi-led Coalition to Support Legitimacy in Yemen, condemned the attack as a "war crime." He stated that the Joint Forces Command of the Coalition would "respond decisively to this terrorist attack in accordance with the Customary International Humanitarian Law."

This incident marks the second fatal assault on Riyadh's airport within a week. Earlier in the week, three Saudi nationals, including a pilot, were killed in attacks attributed to Iran-backed Houthi militants.

Following Saturday's attack, the Houthis issued a renewed warning to airlines, advising against the use of Saudi airports and airspace, declaring them vulnerable to attack and now a "theatre of operations for our forces." The exception noted was for airports in Mecca and Medina.

Saudi Arabia, a crucial U.S. ally in the region, became involved in Yemen's civil war after the Houthis seized the capital, Sanaa, in 2014.

Last month, the Trump administration greenlit a potential $24.3 billion sale of nearly 50 F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia, a move seen as a significant enhancement of the kingdom's defense capabilities amidst escalating Houthi attacks. This sale is currently under congressional review.

Despite the recent attacks, Saudi Arabia's energy ministry confirmed that a long-planned international energy conference will proceed in Riyadh on Sunday. The five-day WPC Energy Congress, held at a convention center near King Khalid airport, has confirmed attendance from over 70 ministers, 300 company executives, and representatives from more than 25 international energy organizations. The mode of participation, whether in-person or virtual, was not specified.

A ministerial meeting of the International Energy Forum is also scheduled, with its plenary session to be conducted in closed doors. Later this month, Saudi Arabia is slated to host the Future Investment Initiative, often referred to as "Davos in the desert."

Beyond attacks on civilian aviation, the Houthis have also targeted oil tanker traffic through the Bab el Mandeb strait, a critical gateway to the Red Sea. This mirrors Iran's actions in the Strait of Hormuz to the north.

Earlier this month, Yemeni government forces announced the recapture of the strategic port city of Mokha from the Houthis.

Energy prices have seen a significant increase since the onset of the Iran war, initiated by U.S. and Israeli airstrikes on Iranian targets on February 28th, placing considerable pressure on consumers globally. The escalation in domestic fuel prices has become a prominent concern for voters leading up to the U.S. midterm elections next month.

However, such U.S. military involvement could strain resources already committed to combating Iran in the Middle East, according to analysts. "Potential U.S. involvement in the Saudi-Yemeni government air campaign to degrade Houthi ballistic missile capabilities would mark the first direct U.S. military action against the group since the conclusion of Operation Rough Rider in May 2025," notes the Critical Threats Project. The offensive, aimed at suppressing Houthi capabilities, has faced questions about U.S. capacity for sustained campaigns amidst existing commitments.

Steven Cook, an expert on Arab and Turkish politics at the Council on Foreign Relations, commented that "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."

Meanwhile, the United Kingdom's defense secretary indicated that his government is also evaluating how to support Saudi Arabia. While the U.K. is not engaging in offensive operations at this stage, they maintain that there is no purely military solution to the conflict.