Stories
Trump Backs Saudi Defenses After Deadly Airport Attack
- •US President Donald Trump stated that Saudi Arabia is capable of defending itself following a deadly attack on Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport.
- •The strike resulted in 12 deaths and 309 injuries, marking the deadliest attack on Saudi soil in over a decade.
- •The Saudi-led coalition blamed Iran-backed Houthi rebels for the attack and vowed a decisive response, calling the incident a war crime.
- •Casualties included citizens from Saudi Arabia, Bangladesh, the United States, Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Palestine, and Sudan.
- •The United States maintains a military presence in Saudi Arabia, providing vital air and missile defense capabilities including Patriot batteries and THAAD systems.
Key Questions Answered
The attack on Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport killed 12 people and injured 309 others, marking the deadliest strike on Saudi soil in over a decade. Four Saudi citizens, two Bangladeshis, and one citizen each from the US, Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Palestine, and Sudan were among the dead. Following the strike, airport operations were suspended as authorities began assessing the damage.
US President Donald Trump described the attack on Riyadh's airport as a "terrible thing" and stated that he was "not happy" about the Houthi strikes. When asked about Saudi forces defending themselves, Trump remarked that the Saudis are "good fighters" and capable of self-defense.
The US maintains a military presence in Saudi Arabia, with roughly 2,321 personnel stationed primarily at Prince Sultan Air Base to provide air and missile defense capabilities. American assets deployed in the kingdom include Patriot missile batteries, Sentinel radars, and the THAAD system to intercept aerial and ballistic threats.
