Trump Weighs US Military Involvement in Saudi Campaign Against Yemen’s Houthis

Reuters

US President Donald Trump shaking hands with Saudi Crowned Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

US President Donald Trump said on Saturday that he was considering whether the United States would join Saudi Arabia’s military campaign against the Houthis in Yemen, as attacks on the kingdom intensify.

“We may. We’re going to look at it,” Trump told reporters, according to The Associated Press, adding that a decision would come quickly.

The comments signal a possible shift in Washington’s approach. The Trump administration has provided Saudi Arabia with intelligence and targeting assistance but has not committed U.S. forces to offensive operations against the Houthis.

According to Newsmax, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman sought direct U.S. military assistance during discussions with Trump in September, Reuters reported. Washington instead offered intelligence-sharing and targeting support.

Trump’s remarks followed a reported missile attack Saturday on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh. The airport was evacuated, flights were diverted or canceled, and injuries were reported, according to the AP. Saudi authorities had not immediately confirmed a casualty toll.

The attack came two days after strikes at the airport killed three Saudi citizens, including an airline pilot. The Houthis claimed responsibility for earlier attacks, but no group immediately claimed Saturday’s strike.

The escalating conflict has raised concerns about threats to shipping near the Bab el-Mandeb strait, a critical maritime passage linking the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden. Disruptions could further complicate international shipping as the separate conflict involving Iran continues to affect traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.

Saudi Arabia launched a major offensive against the Houthis this month, providing air support to Yemeni government forces seeking to reverse recent rebel territorial gains.

The violence has also disrupted commercial aviation, with several international airlines suspending flights to Riyadh and European aviation authorities warning of missile, drone and air-defense risks to civilian aircraft.

The United States conducted a sustained bombing campaign against Houthi targets in 2025 in response to attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea. That operation ended after an agreement to halt attacks on shipping.

Sources: AP, Newsmax



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