President Donald Trump said on Saturday that the United States is considering joining Saudi Arabia in retaliatory strikes against Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen, a decision that could expand American military involvement in the region. The statement followed a deadly attack on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh that killed 12 people and injured 309, according to the Saudi General Authority of Civil Aviation.
"We may. We're going to look at it," Trump told reporters outside the White House when asked about backing Saudi Arabian strikes. "We just found out about the recent attack. So, we'll make a decision. We move very quickly."
Two Saudi government officials, including a senior member of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told MS NOW that the kingdom is requesting "urgent defense support" from Washington. The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter, stated that the U.S. needs to intervene "as soon as possible" to assist the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen against the Houthis. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment from CNBC.
Colonel Turki Al-Maliki, spokesman for the Saudi-led Coalition to Support Legitimacy in Yemen, labeled the airport strike a "war crime." In a post on X, Al-Maliki stated that the Joint Forces Command would respond decisively in accordance with customary international humanitarian law. This incident marks the second deadly assault on Riyadh's main airport in less than a week; three Saudi nationals, including a pilot, were killed in Houthi attacks on the facility on Thursday.
The Houthis renewed warnings against using Saudi airports and airspace, except for those in Mecca and Medina, claiming the facilities have become a theatre of operations for their forces. In addition to targeting civil aviation, Houthi groups have been attempting to restrict oil tanker traffic through the Bab el Mandeb strait, mirroring actions by Iran in the Strait of Hormuz.
The potential for direct U.S. engagement carries significant strategic implications. Steven Cook, an expert on Arab and Turkish politics at the Council on Foreign Relations, noted last month that after seven months of war, questions remain regarding U.S. capacity to sustain campaigns against both Houthis and Iran while preparing for contingencies in East Asia. The Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute observed that potential U.S. involvement would mark the first direct military action against the Houthis since Operation Rough Rider concluded in May 2025.
Despite the violence, the Saudi energy ministry confirmed that a long-planned international energy conference will proceed in Riyadh on Sunday. The five-day WPC Energy Congress is taking place at a convention center near King Khalid airport, with more than 70 ministers and 300 company executives confirmed to attend, though it remains unclear whether participation will be in person or virtual.
The United Kingdom is also examining ways to support Saudi Arabia. Defense Secretary Wes Streeting said he has spoken with Saudi counterpart Khalid bin Salman regarding additional support measures. However, Streeting emphasized that the U.K. is not engaging in offensive operations at this stage and maintained that there is no military solution to the conflict.