US President Donald Trump has indicated that Washington may intervene in the escalating conflict in Yemen, following a Houthi attack on Riyadh's international airport that killed 12 people, including an American citizen. Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump said the US "may" join Saudi strikes against the Yemeni group, also known as Ansar Allah. He added that a decision would be made quickly.
The attack on King Khalid International Airport in the Saudi capital killed 12 people and injured another 309, according to Saudi Arabia's General Authority of Civil Aviation. The dead included four Saudi citizens and eight foreign nationals, with some of the injured in critical condition. The Houthis have claimed responsibility for the attack, which is one of several targeting Saudi airports in recent days.
The renewed fighting comes as Saudi-backed Yemeni forces have launched a major offensive to retake territory seized by the Houthis, including strategic areas near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. The Saudi-led coalition said it had launched "large-scale operations" against the group, destroying 136 military targets. Trump's latest remarks mark a potential shift in Washington's position on the conflict.
In September, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman sought US military assistance against the Houthis, but Trump ultimately backed away from authorizing strikes. Washington has reportedly continued providing Riyadh with intelligence and other non-combat support, but direct US strikes against the Houthis would open another front in the regional conflict.
The US has previously been involved in the conflict, with Trump ordering weeks of US air and naval strikes against Houthi positions in March 2025. However, the campaign ended abruptly in May under an Oman-brokered ceasefire after the Houthis agreed to stop targeting American vessels. The latest escalation comes amid a broader regional conflict triggered by the US-Israeli war on Iran in February.
The Houthis have expanded their control along Yemen's Red Sea coast, threatening a crucial shipping route that Saudi Arabia increasingly relies on for oil exports. A senior Ansar Allah official, Mohammed al-Bukhaiti, said the strikes were intended to force Riyadh to accept a "comprehensive and permanent peace" and end the war and mutual blockade.
The conflict in Yemen has resulted in significant humanitarian and economic costs, with millions of people displaced and facing food and water shortages. The international community has called for a peaceful resolution to the conflict, with the UN urging all parties to engage in dialogue to end the violence.
Key points
- US President Donald Trump says Washington may join Saudi Arabia's military campaign against Yemen's Houthis.
- A Houthi attack on Riyadh airport killed 12 people, including an American citizen.
- The conflict in Yemen has resulted in significant humanitarian and economic costs.
