White House weighs direct strikes in Yemen after Riyadh airport attack kills 14

A series of Houthi missile and drone strikes on Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport has killed at least 14 people and injured more than 300, marking a sharp escalation in the regional conflict. The attacks, which occurred over the weekend ending Sunday, 11 October, have prompted Saudi Arabia to intensify military operations and led U.S. President Donald Trump to consider direct military intervention. Casualties and Economic Risks The strikes targeted critical infrastructure in the Saudi capital for the first time in this latest wave of hostilities. According to reports from Reuters and AP, at least one American citizen is among the dead. F. Gregory Gause, a specialist at the Middle East Institute, told The New York Times that targeting Riyadh’s primary airport is a strategic attempt to deter foreign investment and inflict high economic costs on the kingdom. Beyond the capital, Houthi militants are threatening energy facilities and shipping lanes in the Red Sea. Experts warn that continued aggression near the Bab Al Mandeb Strait could disrupt global oil shipments and international trade, forcing a shift in Saudi export routes. Regional Security and Alliances Dr Anwar Gargash, Diplomatic Adviser to the UAE President, warned on Monday, 12 October, that these attacks represent a direct threat to the security of the UAE and the wider Gulf region. Writing on the social media platform X, Gargash stated that regional security is \"indivisible\" and called for an urgent…