U.S. President Donald Trump stated that after a deadly attack on the main airport in Riyadh, he is considering whether to join Saudi Arabia's retaliatory actions against the Houthi forces in Yemen, which are supported by Tehran, a move that could further draw the United States into a second front of war with Iran.
"We might. We'll consider it," Trump said on Saturday outside the White House when asked by reporters whether the United States would support Saudi airstrikes. "We just learned about the recent attacks. So, we will make a decision. We act very quickly."
Two Saudi government officials told MS NOW that after the attack, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is requesting “urgent defense support” from the United States.
Among these two officials is a senior Saudi Foreign Ministry official. Due to the sensitivity of the situation, they preferred not to be named. They added that the United States needs to intervene "as soon as possible" to assist the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen in fighting against the Houthi forces.
The White House did not immediately respond to the request for a comment from CNBC.
The Saudi Civil Aviation Authority stated that the attack on Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport resulted in 12 deaths and 309 injuries. This news was reported by the Saudi official media, Al-Arabiya.
Colonel Turki al-Maliki, spokesman for the Saudi-led “Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen,” called this attack a “war crime.”
"Therefore, the Combined Forces Command of the coalition will respond decisively to this terrorist attack in accordance with international humanitarian customary law," Maliki posted on X.
This is already the second fatal attack to occur at Riyadh Airport in less than a week.
On Thursday, Houthi militants supported by Iran launched an attack on the facility, resulting in the death of three Saudi citizens, including a pilot.
After the attack on Saturday, Houthi militants once again warned against using Saudi airports.
Houthi militants posted on social media, stating: "We once again warn all airlines, experts, employees, workers, and passengers not to use Saudi airports and airspace, as they are vulnerable to attacks and have become combat zones for our forces, except for the airports in the two holy cities of Mecca and Medina."
Saudi Arabia is an important ally of the United States in the Middle East. In 2014, after the Houthi rebels seized Sanaa, the capital of Yemen, Saudi Arabia became involved in the civil war between the Houthi rebels and the internationally recognized government of Yemen.
Last month, the Trump administration approved a potential deal to sell nearly 50 F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia, worth $24.3 billion. The outside world views this as a major boon for Saudi Arabia, which is facing intensified attacks from Houthi militants. The deal is still under review by Congress.
The International Energy Conference will still be held.
Reuters reports that the Saudi Ministry of Energy stated that a long-prepared international energy conference will still be held in Riyadh on Sunday.
The five-day WPC Energy Conference will be held at a convention center near King Khalid International Airport. Saudi National Television told Reuters that more than 70 ministers, executives from 300 companies, and representatives from over 25 international energy organizations have confirmed their attendance, but it is not yet clear whether the participants will attend in person or via online means.
Reuters reports that a ministerial meeting of the International Energy Forum will also be held, and its plenary session will be conducted behind closed doors.
Energy thoroughfare
In addition to attacking civilian aviation, Houthi militants have also been attempting to cut off the traffic of oil tankers through the Strait of Mandeb. The Strait of Mandeb is an important entrance to the Red Sea; Iran has already adopted a similar approach in the Strait of Hormuz, located in the northern part of the Arabian Peninsula.
Earlier this month, the Yemeni government forces stated that they had recaptured the strategic port city of Mokka from the hands of Houthi militants.
Since February 28th, when the United States and Israel launched airstrikes on Iranian targets, triggering a war with Iran, energy prices have soared significantly, putting pressure on consumers around the world.
The sharp rise in domestic fuel prices is a key issue that voters will be paying attention to before the mid-term elections next month in the United States.
But such support comes at a high cost militarily.
The Critical Threats Project affiliated with the American Enterprise Institute stated: "The United States may participate in aerial operations by Saudi and Yemeni governments to undermine the ballistic missile capabilities of the Houthi militants, which would mark the first time the U.S. has taken direct military action against the group since the end of the ‘Rough Rider operation’ in May 2025."
The offensive is aimed at suppressing the capabilities of Houthi militants, but recent attacks indicate that the group has regrouped.
"After seven months of war, people began to question America's ability to continue fighting against the Houthi forces, to re-engage with Iran if necessary, and to prepare for emergencies in other regions of the world, especially East Asia," wrote Steven Cook, an expert on Arab and Turkish politics at the Council on Foreign Relations, last month.
At the same time, the UK Secretary of Defence stated that the British government is also studying how to support Saudi Arabia.
On Sunday, Wes Strittin said in an interview with BBC television: "Over the past few weeks, I have had multiple discussions with my Saudi colleague Khalid bin Salman to explore what else we could do to support Saudi Arabia. Regrettably, the events of last night precisely illustrate why such support is necessary for us."
Streiting stated that the UK 'currently' will not participate in offensive actions.
"We have always made it clear that there is no military solution to this conflict," Streiting added.
