RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — Houthi missile and drone strikes have shut down Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport and set fire to part of an Aramco complex in Dhahran, deepening a Gulf crisis that is already tangled up with the U.S.-Iran war. On Tuesday, President Donald Trump said his administration will "make a decision on Iran very soon," and warned the Houthis they are "misbehaving very badly."

Saudi aviation authorities have extended the closure of the capital's main airport through October 17. Qatar Airways has suspended flights to Riyadh and Dammam, and Etihad has halted Abu Dhabi–Riyadh service until October 19. For travelers, energy markets and the U.S. military, the stakes keep rising.

What Happened at Riyadh Airport and Dhahran

Houthi strikes on King Khalid International Airport over the weekend killed at least 12 to 14 people and injured hundreds, according to reports from several outlets. One roundup of international news put the toll at 18. The figure varies by source, and Saudi officials have not released a single consolidated count in the reports reviewed.

On Tuesday a ballistic missile struck the Aramco complex in Dhahran, causing a fire. Saudi state media said an administrative building was targeted and the fire was "limited." No injuries or deaths were reported. Separately, Saudi Civil Defense said debris from two intercepted cruise missiles injured four people and damaged 15 homes in Riyadh.

The Saudi-led coalition said it destroyed three cruise missiles and two drones aimed at Riyadh and southern regions. Coalition spokesman Turki al-Maliki also warned civilians to evacuate an oil site in the Houthi-held capital, Sanaa, ahead of what he called a "qualitative operation." Houthi spokesman Yahya Saree claimed Saudi forces carried out 104 airstrikes and missile attacks in 24 hours; those figures come from the Houthis and are unverified.

Trump Weighs In

Speaking Tuesday, Trump said he had spoken with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman about the strikes. On Truth Social he wrote that the U.S. "bombed the HELL out of them" in the past, and said the group had re-emerged "probably at the behest of Iran."

Asked whether the November 3 midterm elections could affect his thinking on Iran, Trump answered: "No, it has no impact." He also predicted that "as soon as the war ends, which will be very soon with Iran, the [price of] oil will drop like a rock." At a rally in Alaska he said, "We're going to do a number," and added that the U.S. has "had it."

Trump said he does not believe China or Russia is helping Iran, writing, "I don't believe they are at all." An unnamed official told Bloomberg, however, that Russia is supplying Iran with missiles. A separate report said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pressed Trump to renew fighting before the election; the Prime Minister's Office denies it.

A Warning to Washington

Houthi official Mohammed Al Bukhaiti threatened a "swift and painful response" against U.S. interests if Washington joins the Saudi strikes. The U.S. Embassy in Riyadh has advised Americans to "reconsider travel to Saudi Arabia" because of drone and missile risks. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan condemned the airport attacks and said Türkiye "stands by Saudi Arabia."

The humanitarian toll is mounting too. The United Nations reports that more than 217,000 people have been displaced since fighting escalated on Yemen's west coast, and that at least 139 people died when an overloaded migrant boat sank on the way from Djibouti to Yemen. Yemen's government says Houthi strikes killed at least five civilians in 24 hours, including an attack on a hospital in Taiz.

The Strait of Hormuz Is Still Under Fire

The Gulf is not the only front. The UK Maritime Trade Operations center reported another oil tanker was hit by a projectile as it left the Strait of Hormuz, with all crew safe. Iran's Revolutionary Guard claimed the attack, its third ship strike in two days, and at least 18 attacks on ships in or near the strait have been recorded since early October.

U.S. Central Command pushed back on Iranian threats, saying "IRGC's navy commander has no navy," and added that U.S. forces helped ship 19 million barrels of crude through the strait. Still, oil remains elevated: West Texas Intermediate rose 0.4% to $94.14 a barrel Tuesday, while Brent slipped 0.9% to $105.69.

What It Means for Americans

The U.S.-Iran war began on February 28, 2026, and polls show it is unpopular with Americans. Drivers are already feeling the effects through fuel prices, and airlines worldwide are cutting routes as jet fuel costs climb. A wider U.S. role in Yemen would add another open-ended military commitment weeks before voters go to the polls.

In the UK, Prime Minister Andy Burnham said a September plot against RAF Fairford was "highly likely" coordinated in Iran and "almost certainly" directed by the Revolutionary Guard, a reminder that the conflict's reach extends beyond the Gulf.

What Trump means by a "decision" on Iran has not been spelled out. Whether it brings new strikes, a negotiated end to the war, or direct U.S. involvement against the Houthis will shape oil prices, travel and American security for months. USA Herald will update this story as official statements are released.