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Trump considers U.S. role as Houthi attacks disrupt Riyadh airport

President Donald Trump said the United States is weighing whether to join Saudi-led strikes against Yemen’s Houthi rebels after another missile hit Riyadh’s airport. The attack wounded people, halted airport operations and added to growing flight disruptions amid an escalating regional conflict.

Trump considers U.S. role as Houthi attacks disrupt Riyadh airport
A missile struck a domestic-flight terminal complex at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on Saturday, prompting Saudi authorities to suspend operations as they assessed damage and injuries. The attack came as President Donald Trump said he was considering whether the United States should join Saudi Arabia’s military campaign against Yemen’s Houthi rebels. “We may. We’re going to look at it,” Trump said Saturday, adding that officials had just learned of the latest attack and that a decision would follow. He did not say what role the U.S. might take. A regional official, speaking anonymously because they were not authorized to brief the media, said many people were wounded when the missile struck the complex housing terminals 3 and 4. Saudi aviation authorities suspended airport operations through midnight, according to a notice to pilots. Flights were diverted, and the airport had a heavy police presence, with entrances blocked. The Houthis claimed responsibility for earlier attacks on the airport this week that killed three Saudis, including a pilot. The latest strike followed a week of escalating attacks on Saudi airports, military sites and oil infrastructure after a Saudi-led coalition began a major offensive against the Houthis. The rebels had not immediately commented on Saturday’s Riyadh strike; earlier in the day, they accused Saudi Arabia of attacking Sanaa International Airport, in Yemen’s Houthi-held capital. The conflict is also disrupting air travel. FlightAware recorded at least 291 cancellations at Riyadh airport in the 24 hours before the latest attack. Several international airlines had already suspended some flights to Saudi airports, while the European Union Aviation Safety Agency warned that attacks and interception efforts increased the risk of civil aircraft being misidentified. The escalation has unsettled regional markets and raised concerns about the security of Saudi Arabia, the world’s largest oil exporter. Saudi officials said last month that the kingdom was running low on missile interceptors and had sought air-defense support from France, Britain, Pakistan and Egypt. The United States has provided intelligence sharing, target identification and planning assistance for the latest offensive, according to officials. The Houthis have said their attacks target Saudi shipping in retaliation for a blockade, but the threat has extended to aviation infrastructure. The group warned global airlines this week against operating in Saudi airspace. Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister and Oman’s foreign minister spoke Saturday about supporting diplomatic efforts to ease tensions.

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