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// DOSSIER — trump-condemns-houthi-strikes-saudi-arabia-hostilities-escalate
Trump Condemns Houthi Strikes on Saudi Arabia as Cross-Border Hostilities Escalate
REL_TIME: 13 Oct 2026 22:12Z · LANG: EN
US President Donald Trump stated that Yemen's Houthis are behaving very badly following a wave of deadly missile and drone attacks targeting Saudi aviation and energy infrastructure, including a strike on Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport that killed at least a dozen people. Trump accused the group of acting at the behest of Iran to drive up global oil prices ahead of the US midterm elections, while indicating that Washington is weighing whether to join Saudi military operations. The escalation coincides with Saudi airstrikes against Houthi-held fuel facilities in Sanaa and Hodeidah, as regional partners including Turkey and Pakistan mobilize defensive and diplomatic support for Riyadh under mutual defense arrangements.
// Background
The escalation stems from Yemen's long-running civil war that began in 2014 when the Houthis captured Sanaa, triggering an intervention by a Saudi-led coalition in 2015. A relative calm established under a 2022 truce began to unravel in July 2026 over disputes concerning airspace and airport access, compounded by wider regional hostilities and a Yemeni government counteroffensive known as Dawn of Yemen. Although the US and Houthis had observed a fragile ceasefire following a 2025 American air campaign that targeted Houthi anti-shipping capabilities, Houthi attacks have expanded across the Gulf, severely testing depleted Saudi interceptor stockpiles.
// Why it matters
The renewed cross-border strikes threaten critical energy infrastructure and major civil aviation hubs in the world's leading crude exporter, driving regional economic instability and disrupting international flight corridors. The conflict forces the United States and regional pact members such as Turkey and Pakistan to decide between direct military intervention or containment as Saudi air defenses face severe supply strains. Key developments to monitor include whether the US resumes direct bombing in Yemen, the extent of Turkish defensive deployments, and potential Houthi retaliatory strikes on Aramco installations.
// Key Developments
- Houthi missile attacks on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh killed between 12 and 14 people, including an American and an Indian national, and injured over 300 others.
- Saudi-led coalition airstrikes struck the al-Sabaha fuel depot outside Sanaa and the Ras Isa oil port in Hodeidah after issuing evacuation orders.
- President Trump warned that the US may join Saudi offensive operations and suggested requesting Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to support Riyadh.
- Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree warned civilians and workers to evacuate Saudi Aramco facilities and major airports, declaring them active military targets.
- Airlines including Air France-KLM, Lufthansa, Delta, and Air India suspended regional flights as international regulators issued alerts on Saudi airspace.
// Timeline
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Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan sign the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement establishing collective defense principles.
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Houthi strikes hit Abha International Airport, killing three foreign nationals and injuring 36 others.
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A ballistic missile strikes domestic terminals at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, leaving at least a dozen dead and over 300 injured.
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Houthi forces claim four separate drone and missile operations across Saudi Arabia, including King Fahd International Airport and Aramco sites.
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Saudi airstrikes target the al-Sabaha fuel terminal near Sanaa and the Ras Isa oil port, prompting Trump to denounce Houthi actions and weigh allied intervention.
// Perspectives
[United States]
Condemns the Houthi strikes as Iranian-backed destabilization aimed at influencing oil prices, while providing Saudi forces with intelligence and refueling as it weighs direct military involvement.
[Houthi Movement (Ansar Allah)]
Frames its missile and drone barrage against Saudi airports and energy infrastructure as reciprocal retaliation for Saudi air raids and naval blockades.
[Saudi Arabia]
Labels the strikes on civilian aviation facilities as war crimes, carries out retaliatory strikes on Yemeni fuel hubs, and seeks increased air defense backing from allies.
[Turkey]
Condemns Houthi attacks in strong terms and pledges defensive and technical support to Riyadh under the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement while avoiding direct cross-border troop deployment.
// Quotes
“The Houthis are behaving very badly. I thought they learned their lesson a year ago when we bombed the HELL out of them and, at their request, stopped.”
“We may. We're going to look at it. We just found out about the recent attack, so we'll make a decision. We move very quickly.”
“The Yemeni Armed Forces urge all citizens to immediately evacuate and stay away from the targets that our armed forces will strike should the Saudi enemy proceed with its announced attacks.”
“The attack on King Khalid International Airport is a terrorist act and will be met with a firm response.”
