Summary
- WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump has condemned the recent attack on Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport, describing the incident as unacceptable and saying Washington is considering whether to join Saudi Arabia’s military operations against Yemen’s Houthi group.
- US considering possible military involvement Asked whether the United States could participate in Saudi strikes against the Houthis in Yemen, Trump said Washington had not yet reached a final decision but was examining the possibility.
- Deadly attack raises security concerns The attack on Riyadh’s international airport has heightened concerns about the security of civilian infrastructure in Saudi Arabia.
WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump has condemned the recent attack on Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport, describing the incident as unacceptable and saying Washington is considering whether to join Saudi Arabia’s military operations against Yemen’s Houthi group.
Speaking to the media, Trump said the attack was deeply regrettable and indicated that he intended to speak with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman about the incident and the regional security situation.
“What happened in Saudi Arabia is not acceptable,” Trump said, according to reports of his remarks. He added that he would discuss the matter with the Saudi crown prince as tensions continue to rise in the region.
US considering possible military involvement
Asked whether the United States could participate in Saudi strikes against the Houthis in Yemen, Trump said Washington had not yet reached a final decision but was examining the possibility.
“We may. We’re going to look at it,” he said, adding that his administration had only recently learned about the latest attack and would decide how to proceed.
Trump indicated that the decision-making process would move quickly. However, he did not announce any confirmed plan for direct US military participation in the Saudi-led operations.
His comments come amid escalating hostilities between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis, who have intensified attacks on Saudi targets as fighting in Yemen continues. The possibility of greater American involvement has raised concerns about a wider regional confrontation.
Deadly attack raises security concerns
The attack on Riyadh’s international airport has heightened concerns about the security of civilian infrastructure in Saudi Arabia. Saudi authorities reported that a strike on the airport on October 10 killed at least 12 people and injured more than 300 others.
The casualties reportedly included Saudi citizens and foreign nationals. Airport operations were disrupted following the incident as authorities responded to the attack and assessed the damage.
Saudi Arabia has blamed Yemen’s Houthi movement for the strike. The incident occurred as Saudi-backed forces and the Houthis continued fighting in Yemen, where the conflict has repeatedly threatened regional stability.
The airport attack has also prompted international reactions, with several governments expressing concern over the threat to civilians and essential infrastructure.
Trump says Saudi Arabia can defend itself
Trump also expressed confidence in Saudi Arabia’s ability to protect itself, saying the kingdom had the capacity to defend against attacks.
Nevertheless, he reiterated that the United States would assess the situation before deciding whether to become more directly involved in the conflict.
His remarks leave open the possibility of a change in Washington’s role as Saudi Arabia responds to the latest escalation. For now, however, the US administration has not publicly confirmed that American forces will join Saudi strikes against the Houthis.
The coming days are likely to be important for regional diplomacy and security, particularly as Washington considers its response and Riyadh evaluates further measures following the airport attack.
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