The Breakfast Table · ages 9–11 · 2026-10-10
Yemen's War Reaches Saudi Arabia's Capital
An attack on Riyadh's main airport killed 12 people. President Trump says America may get involved.
Airports are supposed to be busy, ordinary places. On Saturday, the main airport in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, was attacked. Saudi officials said 12 people were killed and 309 were hurt.
The likely attackers are the Houthis, a rebel group backed by Iran that has controlled the north of Yemen, Saudi Arabia's southern neighbour, since 2014. On Thursday they said they had fired a missile at the same airport, and warned airlines to stay out of Saudi skies.
Their attacks answer a new fight inside Yemen. Since October 4, Yemen's Saudi-backed government has been trying to take back Houthi land.
Asked whether America would join in, President Trump said, "We may. We're going to look at it."
Why it matters
Yemen's coast lines one of the world's busiest sea lanes. Ships carrying oil and goods between Asia and Europe squeeze through the narrow Bab el-Mandeb strait. With the Iran war closing another route, the Strait of Hormuz, Saudi Arabia has been sending its oil out this way. Fighting near the strait can make fuel and goods cost more far from Yemen.
BAB EL-MANDEB STRAIT. Ships between the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean pass along Yemen's coast.