The UN envoy to Yemen: Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia threaten regional security
Quick Look
US President Donald Trump condemned the Houthi attack on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, which resulted in the killing of 12 people, including an American citizen, and described it as unacceptable, indicating that the United States may join the Saudi strikes on the Houthis, while Secretary of State Marco Rubio affirmed his country’s condemnation of the Houthi terrorist attacks and stressed that the United States stands with Saudi Arabia.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
The attack comes in the context of an ongoing escalation between the Houthis in Yemen and Saudi Arabia, with repeated accusations against the Houthis of carrying out attacks with drones and missiles targeting civilian and military facilities in Saudi Arabia, with alleged Iranian support.
US President Donald Trump condemned the Houthi attack on Riyadh airport that killed at least 12 people on Saturday, noting that it was “unacceptable.”
Trump told reporters that he would speak with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman following the attack by the Houthi militias affiliated with Iran.
He added, "What happened in Saudi Arabia is unacceptable."
For his part, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed his country's strong condemnation of the Houthi terrorist group's recent attacks on Saudi Arabia, including targeting King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh.
Rubio stressed, in a post on his official account on the “X” social media platform, that “these heinous attacks show a blatant disregard for the lives of innocent civilians, and must stop immediately,” stressing that the United States stands by Saudi Arabia and its people.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed his country's strong condemnation of the Houthi terrorist group's recent attacks on Saudi Arabia, including the targeting of King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on Saturday, which resulted in the death of 12 people, including an American citizen.
Rubio stressed, in a post on his official account on the “X” social media platform, that “these heinous attacks show a blatant disregard for the lives of innocent civilians, and must stop immediately,” stressing that the United States stands by Saudi Arabia and its people.
US President Donald Trump said earlier, on Saturday, that the United States “may join” the Saudi strikes on the Houthi militias, after the “recent attacks,” indicating that he had not yet made a decision.
Trump stated that he “will decide quickly about joining Saudi Arabia in striking the Houthis,” adding: “We may do that, and we will study the matter.” We have just learned of the latest attack, so we will make a decision. "We are moving very quickly."
US President Donald Trump said on Saturday that the United States “may join” Saudi strikes on the Houthi militias, after “recent attacks,” indicating that he has not yet made a decision.
Trump stated that he "will quickly decide whether to join Saudi Arabia in striking the Houthis." He added: “We may do that, and we will study the matter.” We have just learned of the latest attack, so we will make a decision. "We are moving very quickly."
Trump's statements came after the Saudi Civil Aviation Authority reported on Saturday that King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh had been attacked, resulting in injuries. The authority added that operational operations at the airport have been temporarily suspended, until the damage assessment is completed and the safety of the facilities is verified.
For his part, the spokesman for the Yemeni Armed Forces, Colonel Majid Al-Nuzaili, announced that more than 1,900 direct and accurate targeting operations had been carried out on the eastern, western and southwestern fronts during the last 24 hours, targeting weapons and ammunition stores, fortifications, camps and military sites, points on ruling bodies occupied by the enemy, reinforcements, mustering and assembly areas, field artillery positions, means of transporting elements and supplies, in addition to military targets. Legitimate and high value deep in areas controlled by the terrorist Houthi militias.
According to initial field estimates, the operations resulted in the neutralization of more than 1,150 militia members, and the destruction and damage of more than 180 combat, transport and supply vehicles and means, which weakened their ability to maneuver, provide support and sustain their combat operations. The spokesman added that the ground forces continued to develop their attack, achieving new field progress, recovering sites, extending control over additional governing bodies, and consolidating the gains achieved.
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
The United States will announce its decision on joining Saudi strikes on the Houthis within the next 48 to 72 hours.
Likely · Within days
The military escalation between the Houthis and Saudi-backed Yemeni forces will continue on the eastern, western and southwestern fronts during the next week.
Very likely · Within days
Open Questions
- What precise military response will the United States take if it decides to join the Saudi strikes?
- Will the US joining the strikes lead to the conflict expanding directly to include Iran?
- What guarantees will Saudi Arabia and the United States provide to avoid civilian casualties in any future operations?
- How will this escalation affect peace efforts in Yemen and international efforts to end the war?






