Riyadh airport attack another dangerous moment in already tense conflict

Riyadh airport attack another dangerous moment in already tense conflict

Saturday’s strike on King Khalid Airport in Riyadh marks yet another perilous moment in a region already burdened by tension and conflict.

Saudi Arabia was not prepared for this.

In recent weeks, the Houthis have intensified their attacks on Saudi territory, but over the past few days their strikes have targeted the country’s critical infrastructure in the form of the capital’s main airport, apparently breaching Saudi air defences with ease.

The physical damage can be repaired quickly, but the kingdom’s image as a safe haven of stability is being badly damaged.

Alongside the airport attacks, the Houthis have also tried to seize strategically important positions along the Red Sea coast and around the Bab al-Mandeb Strait. That further raises the danger to safe passage along the crucial maritime corridor, although the Yemeni government says it has "secured" the strait.

The civil war in Yemen between the internationally recognised government, backed by Saudi Arabia, and the Houthis, supported by Iran, has been raging for more than a decade. It has killed many thousands and pushed Yemen into one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.

This is a complicated and often bewildering geopolitical conflict, and the latest escalation must be viewed in the wider context of tensions between Iran, the United States and Israel.

The Kingdom has not faced such a grave threat since the al-Qaeda insurgency of the mid-2000s.

The Saudi government dealt with that challenge through an effective hearts and minds campaign. It then endured the Arab Spring uprisings across the region, which removed leaders in Tunisia, Libya, Egypt and Yemen.

It even brushed off – with some irritation – an Iranian ballistic missile attack on Riyadh in March.

But this is different. Saudi Arabia may have one of the most powerful air forces in the Middle East, and it has been conducting devastating air strikes on Houthi positions. Even so, the opposing forces have managed to capture large parts of the war-ravaged country, especially in the north and west.

The Houthis know precisely where to strike back: at the soft underbelly of the Saudi economy.

As part of the " axis of resistance

", the Houthis are an important strategic partner for Iran. From Jizan on the Red Sea to the petrochemical complex at Khurais, the Houthis are sending explosive drones and missiles with deadly precision.

The Red Sea shipping route has become more significant because the Strait of Hormuz, on the other side of the Gulf, has still not fully reopened since the US and Iran failed to reach a deal to end their war

.

Attacking ships in the Red Sea is another means by which the Houthis are seeking leverage, with the assaults inflicting global economic harm, which is a key bargaining chip for Tehran.

In early September, the White House said it would not intervene directly in the Yemen conflict, but could offer intelligence support to the Saudis. It later confirmed that it was providing intelligence and had sent military experts to Saudi Arabia.

The situation may have shifted again after the latest attack on Riyadh, which killed a US citizen.

Speaking to reporters, US President Donald Trump described Saturday’s attack as "terrible" and suggested he might intervene militarily alongside the Saudis.

"We just found out about the recent attack, so we'll make a decision. We move very quickly," Trump said.

But that now appears unlikely, at least before crucial US midterm elections next month.

When he was re-elected in 2024, Trump promised to end America’s role in wars around the world. Despite that, the US is currently involved in three unresolved conflicts in the Middle East - in Gaza, Lebanon and Iran.

If Trump becomes entangled in another one, this time in Yemen, it is unlikely to be popular with voters.

This war now appears set to intensify before ending in another fragile truce - with or without US involvement.