Trump Weighs US Strikes on Houthis After Riyadh Airport Attack

A missile struck King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026, injuring multiple people and prompting Saudi authorities to suspend airport operations as attacks intensify in the kingdom's expanding conflict with Iran-backed Houthi rebels in neighboring Yemen. President Donald Trump said the United States was considering joining Saudi military strikes against the group.

A regional official said the missile hit a complex housing terminals 3 and 4, which serve domestic flights. The official spoke anonymously because they were not authorized to brief the media, and Saudi civil aviation authorities said they were assessing the damage and injuries.

Saudi Arabia suspended airport operations through midnight, according to an official aviation notice. Police blocked entrances to the facility, lighting around the complex was dimmed, and flights were diverted to other airports, flight-tracking service Flightradar24 reported.

Trump said Washington had not yet decided whether to intervene directly against the Houthis, following the latest attack on the Saudi capital.

"We may. We're going to look at it," Trump said of intervening. "We just found out about the recent attack.

So we'll make a decision. We move very quickly."

The latest strike follows attacks earlier in the week that the Houthis claimed had killed three Saudis, including a pilot. The attacks have also targeted other Saudi airports, military facilities and oil infrastructure since a Saudi-led coalition launched a major offensive against the rebels about a week ago.

The Houthis had not immediately commented on Saturday's Riyadh strike. Earlier that day, however, they accused Saudi Arabia of attacking Sanaa International Airport in Yemen's Houthi-controlled capital.

Saudi Arabia, the world's leading oil exporter, has faced growing security and economic pressures as the conflict threatens critical infrastructure and regional transportation. At least 291 flights at Riyadh airport were canceled over the preceding 24 hours, according to FlightAware.

The United States, Britain, Germany, Australia and Canada warned their citizens to avoid the airport. Air India, FlyDubai, Lufthansa Group and Pakistan International Airlines had also suspended flights to Riyadh and other Saudi airports for varying periods before Saturday's attack.

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency expanded its guidance on Saudi airspace, citing the Houthis' ability to strike deeper inside the kingdom and an increased focus on aviation infrastructure. The agency warned that missile and drone attacks, along with interception attempts, posed a greater risk of civilian aircraft being misidentified.

Two regional officials said Houthi attacks on Riyadh airport on Thursday damaged three planes. Saudi Arabia's national carrier separately confirmed that one of its aircraft was damaged while parked on the ground, with no passengers aboard.

Saudi Arabia is also facing pressure on its air defense resources. Regional officials told The Associated Press last month that the kingdom was running low on missile interceptors and had requested air defense assistance from France, Britain, Pakistan and Egypt. One official said US interceptor supplies had also dwindled during the war with Iran.

US assistance to the Saudi-led offensive against the Houthis has included intelligence sharing, target identification and operational planning, according to officials.

The fighting in Yemen has intensified as Saudi-backed government forces seek to reverse recent Houthi advances along the Red Sea, with coalition aircraft supporting their operations. The rebels' gains have improved their ability to monitor shipping along a corridor that serves as a crucial alternative to the Strait of Hormuz, where Iran has attacked vessels during the wider conflict.

The Houthis have told The Associated Press and other media outlets that their operations target Saudi shipping as part of a blockade imposed in retaliation for restrictions against them. The group previously attacked other vessels after the war in Gaza began, saying the actions expressed solidarity with Palestinians, before a US bombing campaign sharply curtailed those attacks.

Saudi Arabia's foreign minister and his Omani counterpart discussed regional tensions by phone on Saturday, according to the Saudi government. Their discussion emphasized the importance of diplomatic efforts to reduce tensions, while Oman has periodically served as a mediator in the region.

Saudi authorities also warned the public this week against sharing information about missile and drone interceptions or their impact sites, saying such activity could create legal liability. Despite the airport attack, the Saudi energy ministry continued promoting a major international energy conference scheduled to begin in Riyadh on Sunday.