Saudi Arabia Weighs Response After Houthi Airport Attack

Saudi Arabia is weighing its response after a Houthi missile attack on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh killed at least 12 people on Saturday, escalating a conflict that threatens the kingdom's security and regional stability. The Iran-aligned Yemeni rebels intensified their attacks after Saudi Arabia launched a major offensive last week to support Yemeni government forces fighting to regain territory from the group.

The attack has increased pressure on Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Defense Minister Khaled bin Salman to determine whether Saudi Arabia should expand its military campaign. According to CNN, an American citizen was among those killed, a development that could also influence Washington's involvement in the conflict.

Saudi Arabia has largely supported anti-Houthi forces through air operations rather than deploying large numbers of its own troops inside Yemen. However, the rebels have maintained their positions and strengthened their control over major cities, including areas near Taiz, a densely populated city they are seeking to capture.

Ali Shihabi, an author and commentator on Saudi politics, told CNN that the military campaign's success would depend partly on the performance of Yemeni government forces receiving Saudi air support.

"This threat has to be dealt with once and for all," said Ali Shihabi, an author and commentator on Saudi politics.

Shihabi said the outcome would depend heavily on the troops fighting the Houthis on the ground, with Saudi Arabia providing extensive air support. A major Saudi ground deployment could expose the kingdom to a costly, prolonged war across Yemen's difficult terrain and undermine its efforts to present itself as a stable destination for investment and international tourism.

The Houthis have also developed more advanced military capabilities over the past two decades. With Iranian support, the movement has evolved from a relatively small religious revivalist group into an armed force equipped with ballistic missiles capable of reaching targets as far away as Tel Aviv, according to CNN.

A southern Yemeni official who fought the Houthis for years described the group's growing capabilities to CNN.

"They've developed their warfare," said a southern Yemeni official who fought the Houthis for years.

The official said the rebels had improved their intelligence and become more sophisticated and persistent in their attacks. Yemen's government has alleged that Houthi fighters worked with Iranian Revolutionary Guard experts to modify missiles, making them faster and equipping them with thermal-tracking systems designed to follow heat sources.

Majed al-Nazili, spokesperson for Yemen's armed forces, said the modified missiles use these capabilities to improve their effectiveness. It remains unclear whether the weapons were used in the attack on Riyadh's airport.

The conflict has also raised concerns about the potential use of artificial intelligence in weapons development. Anthropic said a group based in northern Yemen had used its Claude AI tools to help develop guidance software for rockets and missiles. The company did not identify the group, leaving any direct connection to the Houthis unconfirmed.

Saudi Arabia has sought military assistance from international partners as it confronts the escalating threat. France, Britain and Pakistan have committed support, while Turkey has considered providing assistance. CNN also reported that Mohammed bin Salman had sought help from Syria, whose President Ahmed al-Sharaa previously led armed factions that drove Iranian-backed groups from the country after nearly a decade of civil war.

The United States, Saudi Arabia's principal ally, has not joined airstrikes against the Houthis. Instead, Washington has sent more than 100 military advisers to provide intelligence through a newly established joint command, according to CNN.

Last year, Washington reached a ceasefire with the Iran-aligned group that reopened the Bab al-Mandeb Strait to US vessels. The strategic maritime passage connects trade routes between Asia and Europe. CNN reported that Mohammed bin Salman spoke twice with US President Donald Trump last month and urged him to strike the Houthis, but Trump declined to intervene at that time.

Shihabi argued that direct American military involvement could improve the speed of operations by allowing US aircraft to act more rapidly on intelligence collected by American satellites.

"Clearly, direct US involvement via air power would help because US aircraft can respond to US satellite intelligence more rapidly," said Ali Shihabi, an author and commentator on Saudi politics.

Shihabi added that Saudi aircraft operate one step removed from that intelligence process, making American participation potentially useful. Saudi Arabia has purchased advanced US air defense systems, but its extensive infrastructure and vast desert territory remain vulnerable to relatively inexpensive one-way attack drones.

Trump addressed the airport attack after the reported deaths, praising Saudi forces while condemning the incident.

"The Saudis are good fighters," said US President Donald Trump.

Trump also described the attack as a terrible event. Asked whether the United States would join strikes against the Houthis, he left the possibility open.

"We may," said US President Donald Trump.