Houthi Strikes Hit Saudi Capital as Riyadh Presses Washington for Direct U.S. Support

Houthi Strikes Hit Riyadh as Saudi Arabia Seeks U.S. Military Support

RIYADH — Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis claimed ballistic-missile, cruise-missile and drone attacks on Riyadh and an Aramco facility in Yanbu on Saturday, the first reported strike on the Saudi capital since fighting with the kingdom intensified. Saudi authorities said air defenses intercepted a ballistic missile aimed at Riyadh and thwarted other attacks on civilian sites in Yanbu, Taif, Bisha and Farasan. Residents heard explosions and saw smoke near King Khalid International Airport, where a fuel tank caught fire and flights were briefly disrupted. Saudi officials reported no casualties from the Riyadh intercept.

Houthi spokesman Yahya Saree said fighters carried out “two successful military operations” against “sensitive sites” in the capital and Aramco facilities on the Red Sea coast. The Saudi-led coalition called the assault a cowardly attack on civilians and reserved the right to respond. Riyadh has answered with waves of airstrikes on Houthi-held areas in Yemen but has not halted the group’s advance along the Red Sea coast toward the Bab el-Mandeb strait.

The attacks deepened a dilemma for Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who has repeatedly asked President Donald Trump for direct U.S. airstrikes. U.S. officials said Trump declined, offering intelligence, targeting data and advisers instead. CNN and other outlets reported that MBS called Trump twice last week seeking offensive American strikes. The New York Times reported Sunday that the administration prepared airstrikes after fresh Saudi appeals, then called them off even as munitions were being loaded. Reuters could not independently confirm that account. A U.S. official summarized the policy as “no offensive strikes.” Trump has said the Houthis contacted Washington and “don’t want to fight with us,” distinguishing them from the fight with Saudi Arabia.

Washington has expanded noncombat help. Multiple sources told CNN that roughly 100 to 200 U.S. personnel in the kingdom are providing intelligence and geospatial targeting support through a joint command, including tools compared to Pentagon battlefield systems. The United States is not flying strike missions, refueling Saudi jets or joining combat operations. The State Department has notified Congress of a potential $24.3 billion sale of 48 F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia. Officials also opened unannounced talks with Houthi negotiators in Oman, where the group indicated it would spare U.S. and international shipping while targeting Saudi-linked vessels.

The State Department warned that the conflict “has the potential to escalate rapidly” and advised Americans to “seriously reconsider travel to and through the region.” A Level 3 advisory covers Saudi Arabia; areas near the Yemen border are Level 4, “Do Not Travel.” Trump cut short a Camp David weekend and returned to the White House after the Riyadh attack. Turkey and Pakistan, partners in a recent defense arrangement with Riyadh, have signaled technical or military support without committing to a large intervention. Saudi Arabia has also sought help from Britain, France and others after interceptor stocks and energy routes came under strain, including an earlier strike that shut the East-West pipeline.

The fighting is unfolding against a wider U.S.-Iran war that has already drawn Saudi Arabia into strikes on Iran-backed militias in Iraq. Analysts say Riyadh faces a multi-front threat with less American combat cover than it expected, leaving the kingdom to weigh continued airstrikes against a possible negotiated pause if outside firepower does not arrive.

BBC · The New York Times · CNN · Reuters · Al Jazeera · Dawn · Gulf News · Axios via related reporting

Houthi Strikes Hit Riyadh as Saudi Arabia Seeks U.S. Military Support

Houthis claimed missile and drone attacks on Riyadh and Yanbu. Saudi defenses intercepted a ballistic missile. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has asked President Trump for U.S. strikes; Washington has offered intelligence, not offensive airpower.