Houthi Attacks Disrupt Saudi Aviation and Pressure Trump

Houthi rebels backed by Iran have killed at least 20 people, including an American citizen, and wounded hundreds in attacks on Saudi Arabia's airports over the past week, raising questions about whether President Donald Trump will expand US military support for the kingdom.

According to CBS News, the strikes targeted King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh and became the deadliest attacks in Saudi Arabia in more than a decade. CNBC reported that at least 13 people were killed and more than 300 injured in one weekend strike on airport terminals.

Trump said Sunday that Washington was considering involvement in Saudi strikes after previously declining requests for direct action. President Donald Trump said: "We may. We're gonna look at it … We'll make a decision. We move very quickly."

Nadwa al-Dawsari, associate fellow at the Middle East Institute, said the death of an American alone may not determine the US response. She noted previous Houthi attacks on Americans had not produced military retaliation.

"I don't think that the killing of an American will trigger a military response," said Nadwa al-Dawsari, associate fellow at the Middle East Institute.

Thomas Juneau, associate fellow at Chatham House's Middle East and North Africa Program, said the attacks created competing risks for the Trump administration involving Saudi relations and energy markets.

"a difficult dilemma for President Trump" said Thomas Juneau, associate fellow at Chatham House's Middle East and North Africa Program.

Juneau said direct US intervention could affect tensions around the Red Sea, while a decision not to intervene could affect perceptions of Washington's support for Riyadh.

"Direct U.S. involvement would likely lead to greater tension in the Red Sea, and therefore create more upward pressure on oil prices," said Thomas Juneau, associate fellow at Chatham House's Middle East and North Africa Program.

"Should the U.S. refuse to become directly engaged, however, it will cause growing resentment and anger in Saudi Arabia, where feelings of abandonment caused by a widespread perception that the U.S. is failing to support its partner at a time of need are already acute." said Thomas Juneau, associate fellow at Chatham House's Middle East and North Africa Program.

Al-Dawsari said possible US assistance could include defensive cooperation and intelligence support, while warning that limited strikes would not necessarily remove the Houthi threat.

"The United States can also strengthen air and missile defense cooperation and help identify Houthi launch sites, weapons facilities, and command-and-control infrastructure," said Nadwa al-Dawsari, associate fellow at the Middle East Institute.

Al-Dawsari described a possible goal of military action as reducing Houthi missile and drone capabilities against Saudi Arabia and shipping routes.

"to degrade the Houthis' ability to launch missiles and drones against Saudi Arabia and threaten shipping in the Red Sea," said Nadwa al-Dawsari, associate fellow at the Middle East Institute.

"airstrikes alone will not eliminate the Houthi threat." said Nadwa al-Dawsari, associate fellow at the Middle East Institute.

Al-Dawsari said the effectiveness of any US operation would depend on whether it formed part of a broader strategy against the Houthis.

"The real question is whether American military action would be part of a broader effort to weaken the Houthis, or simply another round of limited strikes that they can absorb and recover from," said Nadwa al-Dawsari, associate fellow at the Middle East Institute.

Mark Zee, founder of OpsGroup, said the attacks reflected a wider challenge for commercial aviation as conflicts increasingly affect airports and flight routes.

"It's a new paradigm. Civil aviation is being directly targeted and it has not been the case in the last couple of decades," said Mark Zee, founder of OpsGroup.

Jeff Price, professor at Metropolitan State University of Denver's Department of Aviation and Aerospace Science, said airport defenses were historically focused on different types of threats.

"Historically, airport security is focused on preventing unauthorized access to aircraft and the airport, not defending airspace." said Jeff Price, professor at Metropolitan State University of Denver's Department of Aviation and Aerospace Science.

Gulnaz Ukassova, UAE-based security director of information and analysis at International SOS, said drone threats remain difficult to counter as technology changes.

"There is still no sort of foolproof way to deal with the threat posed by drones. The technology, obviously, is constantly evolving." said Gulnaz Ukassova, security director of information and analysis at International SOS.

Airlines suspended or delayed services to Riyadh after the attacks. CNBC reported that Delta Air Lines postponed the launch of its Atlanta-Riyadh route until March after a US aviation safety warning.

Finnair CEO Turkka Kuusisto said the airline was avoiding some Middle East routes while conditions remained uncertain.

"We will not fly to Dubai and Doha, and we need to wait until the situation gets settled," said Turkka Kuusisto, Finnair CEO.

The attacks also affected regional air travel as airlines avoided restricted airspace, increasing fuel costs and extending routes across parts of the Middle East.