US Withholds Military Support for Saudi Arabia Amid Houthi Attacks

Yemen's Houthi rebels have significantly escalated their military campaign against Saudi Arabia in recent days, firing a ballistic missile at the Saudi capital Riyadh for the first time since the conflict resumed. The missile was intercepted on Saturday by air defenses operated under the coalition supporting Yemen's government, preventing any damage. The attack marks a new stage of escalation in a conflict that has been intensifying for weeks and now directly targets the Saudi capital itself.

Alongside the strikes on Saudi territory, the Iran-backed Houthi fighters have made substantial territorial gains on the ground. In fierce battles with Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces, the rebels have seized large swaths of land. According to reports from Western media, the Houthi offensive has left hundreds dead in recent weeks. The rebels had previously vowed to impose a naval blockade on Saudi Arabia, and the recent attacks on Riyadh and other Saudi cities appear to reinforce that threat.

Notably, the United States' response to this escalation stands out. Despite decades of close alliance between Washington and Riyadh, the US has so far shown no willingness to provide military support to Saudi Arabia. Instead, the State Department issued a security alert warning of the risk of rapid further escalation in the region, urging restraint. This position has raised questions among Western observers about the kingdom's limited options should its American ally continue to withhold military backing.

At the same time, reports have circulated suggesting that US President Donald Trump stated the Houthis had agreed not to directly attack the United States. This claim, reportedly sourced from Fox News, stands in stark contrast to the simultaneous intensification of Houthi attacks on close American allies such as Saudi Arabia. The context of this statement remains unclear, as different reports frame the matter differently and independent confirmation has not been provided.

Iran, which provides political and military support to the Houthis, warned on Sunday against a possible major attack by the United States and its allies. Tehran said it had information that such a move was being prepared. In the event of a new attack, Iran threatened sustained retaliation against US bases and interests in the region. This warning adds to a series of tensions that have put the entire Gulf region on edge.

On the Arab side, reaction to the attack on Riyadh was strong. The General Secretariat of the Arab League called the Houthi attacks on Saudi cities unacceptable. Several Arab countries joined in condemning the strikes, demonstrating solidarity with Saudi Arabia. A Saudi analyst told Al Jazeera that a "very sizeable" Saudi response to the attacks should be expected, though no specific details were given.

Turkey also signaled potential support. Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said Ankara was studying ways to support Saudi Arabia under a trilateral defence pact with Pakistan. Fidan pointed to the alliance agreement, which he said required solidarity, and noted Turkey could help meet Saudi Arabia's military needs, particularly on technical matters. He described the situation as involving "very serious attacks" on Saudi Arabia's territorial integrity and sovereignty, and condemned them explicitly. How concrete or extensive such support might ultimately be remains uncertain.

Against this backdrop, Trump had already announced in mid-September, according to a report by the news agency TASS, that he intended to discuss Iran with representatives of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and Oman on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. Whether and how these discussions might lead to concrete steps toward de-escalation or support for Saudi Arabia remains unknown.

The overall situation remains marked by considerable uncertainty. While the Houthis continue to expand their gains both on the battlefield and through strikes on Saudi territory, the international community is struggling to formulate a response. The United States is withholding direct military support, Arab states are condemning the attacks, and Iran is threatening further retaliation should a larger attack occur. How the conflict develops in the coming weeks will depend largely on whether any of the involved powers abandons its current stance of restraint.