Donald Trump, the former President of the United States, told reporters upon returning from Tennessee: "We are in contact with the Houthis. We will see what happens. What they did was very bad." These remarks came following the recent attack by Yemen's Ansar Allah forces on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, which resulted in the death of an American citizen.
Attack on Riyadh Airport and International Reaction
Trump described the attack on Riyadh airport as a horrific incident without mentioning the source of the conflicts, adding: "The Saudis are good fighters; however, in my opinion, this attack was a terrible incident." He also emphasized that he is in talks with Mohammed bin Salman, the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, regarding this issue.
The attack on Riyadh airport is just one of the instances indicating ongoing tensions in the region. On Saturday, Saudi fighter jets also targeted Sana'a International Airport, the capital of Yemen. These attacks have serious implications for civilian aviation activities and the possibility of transporting passengers and humanitarian aid in Yemen.
US Position on the Houthis
The US State Department also reacted to this attack, with Marco Rubio, the Secretary of State, stating that his country strongly condemns the recent attacks against Saudi Arabia. He added: "These despicable attacks demonstrate a blatant disregard for the lives of innocent civilians and must be stopped immediately."
A spokesperson for the US State Department, in an interview with CBS, also referred to Washington's close cooperation with Saudi partners and stated: "The United States stands firmly with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in combating Houthi terrorism."
These developments come at a time when tensions in the Persian Gulf region have significantly increased, and their repercussions could impact the security and economic situation of neighboring countries. Trump further criticized Volodymyr Zelensky, the President of Ukraine, accusing him of obstructing the peace agreement between Ukraine and Russia.
Trump emphasized that if he were President, the war between Ukraine and Russia would never have occurred, while also calling for presidential elections in Ukraine. He said: "I suggest they choose new leadership that can reach an agreement, because he (Zelensky) could have achieved many agreements, but for some reason, he never does."
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