President Trump Says U.S. May Consider Supporting Saudi Strikes After Riyadh Airport Attack

President Donald Trump told reporters outside the White House that the United States is evaluating whether to back Saudi Arabian retaliation against Iran-backed Houthi militants after an attack on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh killed 12 people and injured more than 300. \"We may. We're going to look at it,\" Trump said, adding that a decision would be made quickly.

Saudi officials, including a senior member of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said the kingdom has requested urgent defense support from the United States and urged prompt U.S. intervention to assist the Saudi-led coalition fighting the Houthis in Yemen. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Colonel Turki Al-Maliki, spokesman for the Saudi-led coalition, described the airport strike as a \"war crime\" and said the coalition would respond in line with customary international humanitarian law. The Houthis, who claimed responsibility, warned airlines and travelers against using Saudi airports, except those in Mecca and Medina.

The United States recently approved a potential $24.3 billion sale of nearly 50 F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia, a deal now under congressional review. Analysts at the American Enterprise Institute noted that any U.S. air campaign against the Houthis would be the first direct military action against the group since Operation Rough Rider ended in May 2025, and raised questions about the United States' capacity to sustain such operations while addressing other global contingencies.

The United Kingdom's defense secretary, Wes Streeting, said his government is also reviewing support for Saudi Arabia but clarified that the UK is not planning to take part in offensive operations at this stage, emphasizing that a military solution to the conflict remains elusive.