More explosions rocked Saudi Arabia’s capital overnight as Iran-backed Houthis continue their attacks on the kingdom, targeting airports, oil facilities and other infrastructure. The escalating attacks come as President Donald Trump considers whether to bring the U.S. into Saudi-led military strikes against the rebels in Yemen.
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Latest attacks
The Saudi-led coalition says it intercepted another ballistic missile headed toward Riyadh overnight.
The latest interception follows earlier incidents in which missile debris fell into residential neighborhoods, injuring four people and damaging 15 homes. The injured included two women, a man and a child, according to the Saudi Press Agency.
The Houthis have also claimed responsibility for attacks on Saudi oil facilities, including one operated by energy giant Aramco. Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Energy confirmed a limited fire at one of the company’s administrative buildings but reported no injuries. It has not confirmed that a Houthi attack caused the fire.
Riyadh’s King Khalid Internation Airport has come under repeated attack in recent days, with the Houthis warning that more strikes on airports and energy infrastructure are coming.
The growing security threat is also prompting new restrictions for U.S. personnel in Saudi Arabia.
The State Department says U.S. government employees now need special authorization to use any airport in the kingdom. They are also prohibited from traveling within 20 miles of the Yemeni border because of the risk of attacks.
Trump weighs US military involvement
Trump says he has been in contact with Saudi leaders but has declined to say whether he has offered military assistance or what that assistance might involve.
The president is considering whether U.S. forces should join Saudi-led strikes against Houthi positions in Yemen, potentially expanding American involvement in the conflict.
The Houthis have warned that any U.S. participation would trigger a swift response, raising the prospect of further escalation.
Asked whether he had made a decision, Trump criticized the rebels but offered little indication of his next move. “They’re behaving very badly,” Trump said.
Pressed on what he plans to do, he replied, “I mean, if I told you I made a decision, that wouldn’t be good. The Houthis have acted very badly.”
Trump has also accused the Houthis of deliberately targeting Saudi infrastructure to drive up energy prices ahead of the U.S. midterm elections. That claim has not been independently established.
Oil prices climb amid supply concerns
The attacks are adding pressure to global energy markets, with traders increasingly concerned about potential disruptions to Saudi oil production and exports.
Brent crude, the international benchmark, was trading around $106 a barrel, while U.S. benchmark crude was near $94.
Saudi Arabia is one of the world’s largest oil exporters, making attacks on its energy infrastructure a concern well beyond the region.
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