President Donald Trump said he is considering direct U.S. military support for Saudi Arabia after a deadly Houthi strike on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh killed 12 people and injured 309 others.

The attack marks the second major assault on the capital's primary aviation hub in less than a week. Following the initial strike on Thursday, Saudi officials confirmed the kingdom is requesting urgent defense assistance from Washington. They emphasized that American intervention is needed immediately to bolster the Saudi-led coalition fighting Iranian-backed militants in Yemen.

"We may. We're going to look at it," Trump told reporters outside the White House on Saturday. He added that the administration will make a rapid decision after reviewing the latest developments. In response to the escalating violence, the Houthis issued a stark warning to all commercial operators. "We renew our warning to all airlines, experts, employees, workers and travellers against using ⁠Saudi ⁠airports and airspace, as they are vulnerable to attack and have become ⁠a theatre of operations for our forces, with the exception of the airports in (the holy cities of) Mecca and Medina," the group stated.

The violence is rippling across regional commerce and diplomacy. Despite the security crisis, Saudi officials confirmed that the WPC Energy Congress will proceed as scheduled in Riyadh this Sunday. Organizers expect dozens of government ministers and hundreds of corporate executives to attend the five-day summit, though many may join remotely. The conflict continues to pressure global energy markets since U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iranian targets began on Feb. 28. Fuel prices have climbed steadily, while Houthi forces continue to disrupt commercial shipping through the Bab el Mandeb strait.

Any American escalation would represent a significant shift in military posture. Washington has not conducted direct strikes against the group since Operation Rough Rider concluded in May 2025. The Trump administration recently approved a potential $24.3 billion sale of nearly 50 F-35 fighter jets to Riyadh, a deal currently awaiting congressional approval. Defense analysts warn that a sustained campaign could stretch U.S. capabilities. Experts note that after seven months of active conflict, American forces must balance pressure on Iranian proxies with readiness for other global flashpoints, particularly in East Asia.

Other Western allies are moving cautiously. The United Kingdom is reviewing options to assist its Gulf partner but has ruled out joining offensive operations at this stage. British defense officials maintain that the prolonged Yemeni civil war cannot be resolved through force alone. The conflict originally drew Saudi intervention in 2014 after Houthi fighters overran the Yemeni capital of Sanaa. Recent ground operations have seen Yemeni government forces retake the strategic port city of Mokha, but aerial strikes continue to dominate the battlefield.

The escalating war carries direct political weight back home. American voters are closely watching domestic fuel costs as the November midterms approach. A broader U.S. military commitment could drive prices higher, adding economic pressure to an already tense political landscape.