Houthis hit Riyadh airport a second day running and strike Dammam; Turkey and Pakistan to send troops, Trump weighs U.S. intervention
What happened
The Iran-backed Houthis struck Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport a second day in a row on Sunday, hitting terminals 3 and 4, killing one person believed to be Pakistani and injuring 11 — a day after Saturday's missile attack killed at least 13, including a U.S. citizen, and injured more than 300 in the deadliest attack on Saudi territory in decades. Saudi civil aviation authorities confirmed a separate attack on King Fahd International Airport in Dammam on Sunday evening, with damage assessments under way. The Houthis have now targeted the Riyadh airport four times in a week. President Trump said Saturday evening he was evaluating U.S. participation in Saudi strikes against the Houthis: "We may. We're going to look at it... We move very quickly." The Times reported that Turkey and Pakistan are to send troops to support Saudi Arabia under a defense pact signed this year, and Syria has sent drone operators to Aden. The U.S. Mission in Saudi Arabia issued a security alert Sunday telling American nationals to avoid King Khalid airport and warning of airspace restrictions and flight cancellations.
Why it matters & what’s next are part of Pro, along with the audio summary.
Start your free 14-day trialWho’s affected
- Energy/oil producers (XOM, CVX, SHEL, BP, Aramco-linked names) — crude risk premium persists with Brent above $104 on direct hits to Saudi civilian infrastructure and airspace disruption.
- Airlines and travel (AAL, DAL, UAL, LUV, Booking Holdings) — repeated strikes on Riyadh and Dammam airports, mass flight cancellations/diversions, and Houthi warnings to airlines to avoid Saudi airspace raise route-suspension and insurance costs.
- Defense contractors (LMT, RTX, NOC, GD) — a Turkish-Pakistani troop commitment, a potential $24.3B Saudi F-35 sale already in congressional review, and possible direct U.S. strikes against the Houthis would accelerate Gulf procurement.
- Broad equity indices (S&P 500, Nasdaq) — escalation risk is risk-off; the 10-year yield near a 24-year high plus $100+ oil tightens financial conditions ahead of Wednesday's CPI.