Secretary of State Marco Rubio has responded following a ballistic missile attack on Saudi Arabia by Houthi rebel forces in Yemen, which reportedly killed at least one American citizen.
“The United States strongly condemns the recent attacks on the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia by the terrorist Houthis, including today’s strike on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh that took numerous innocent lives, including an American citizen,” he wrote on the X platform.
“These reprehensible attacks demonstrate a blatant disregard for innocent civilian life. They must stop now,” he continued.
“We stand with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and its people and extend our condolences to the victims and their families.”
The Iran-backed Houthis launched a deadly missile attack on Saudi Arabia’s main international airport over the weekend, killing at least 14 people and injuring hundreds, which escalated tensions across the Middle East and raised the possibility of direct American military involvement.
The attacks struck King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on Saturday, October 10, and Sunday, October 11, forcing authorities to suspend airport operations and prompting widespread flight cancellations.
Saturday’s missile strike killed 13 people and injured more than 300, according to Saudi authorities. A second attack Sunday killed another person and wounded 11.
The victims included Saudi citizens and foreign nationals, and one American.
The Saudi-led military coalition blamed the Houthis, a militant organization based in neighboring Yemen that receives support from Iran.
The coalition condemned Saturday’s attack as a war crime and promised a forceful response.
The missile struck an airport complex containing terminals used for domestic flights, causing extensive damage and leaving hundreds of passengers and airport workers injured.
Some victims remained hospitalized in critical condition.
Sunday’s attack involved another projectile striking the airport, triggering a fire and forcing aircraft to return to their gates.
The United States strongly condemns the recent attacks on the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia by the terrorist Houthis, including today’s strike on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh that took numerous innocent lives, including an American citizen.
These reprehensible attacks demonstrate a blatant disregard for innocent civilian life. They must stop now.
We stand with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and its people and extend our condolences to the victims and their families.
— Secretary Marco Rubio (@SecRubio) October 10, 2026
Saudi authorities launched damage assessments and security inspections while keeping airport operations suspended.
The violence represented one of the deadliest attacks on Saudi civilian infrastructure in years.
President Donald Trump responded Saturday by acknowledging that Washington was considering joining Saudi Arabia’s military campaign against the Houthis.
“We may. We’re gonna look at it,” Trump told reporters when asked whether American forces could participate.
“We just found out about the recent attack. So we’ll make a decision — we move very quickly.”
The State Department condemned the strikes and reaffirmed American support for Saudi Arabia.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio also denounced the attacks, which threatened civilian aviation and regional stability.
The United States previously conducted extensive military operations against Houthi targets in Yemen to protect commercial shipping in the Red Sea.
However, Trump has been reluctant to commit American forces to another prolonged Middle Eastern conflict. The latest attacks could complicate that.
The Houthis have intensified attacks against Saudi Arabia as fighting escalates between the rebels and forces supporting Yemen’s internationally recognized government.
Saudi-backed forces have conducted military operations against Houthi positions, including airstrikes targeting rebel infrastructure.
The Houthis have retaliated by targeting Saudi airports, energy facilities and other infrastructure.
The group has warned international airlines against operating in Saudi airspace, describing much of the country as a potential military target.
Saudi Arabia’s airport attacks also threaten international energy markets.
The Houthis maintain a significant presence along Yemen’s Red Sea coastline near the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, a strategically important shipping passage connecting the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden.
Disruptions there could further complicate global oil shipments already affected by regional instability.
The attacks caused major disruptions to international aviation.
According to aviation data reported Monday, nearly all scheduled flights at Riyadh’s airport were canceled Sunday.
This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
