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Accept (/build/images/svg/sprite.68b43361c11f23b39049016b32e6ae31.svg#icon-check)    Manage my choices (/build/images/svg/sprite.68b43361c11f23b39049016b32e6ae31.svg#icon-edit)      One of your browser extensions seems to be blocking the video player from loading. To watch this content, you may need to disable it on this site. Try again   (Large plume of black smoke rises from the fuel storage area at King Khalid International Airport, in Riyadh)  Cover image:            Large plume of black smoke rises from the fuel storage area at King Khalid International Airport, in Riyadh        REUTERS - Stringer  (/build/images/svg/sprite.68b43361c11f23b39049016b32e6ae31.svg#icon-play)        07:48      Houthi attacks and no Western support: What are Saudi Arabia's options ?  Middle East   Issued on: 20/09/2026 - 14:24  Modified: 20/09/2026 - 14:26    Share (/build/images/svg/sprite.68b43361c11f23b39049016b32e6ae31.svg#icon-share)       The US has warned that fighting between Saudi Arabia and Iran-backed Houthis could rapidly escalate. It comes after a missile attack targeted Riyadh for the first time since the Yemen conflict resumed. The Houthis' lightning offensive seized swathes of Yemeni territory in recent weeks and has left hundreds dead. In the face of such attacks and with no support from its American ally, what are Saudi Arabia’s options?  Keywords for this article (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/yemen/) (Yemen) Yemen  (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/military/) (military) military  (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/attacks/) (attack) attack  (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/middle-east/) (Middle East) Middle East  (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/saudi-arabia/) (Saudi Arabia) Saudi Arabia  (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/european-union/) (European Union) European Union  (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/israel/) (Israel) Israel  (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/iran/) (Iran) Iran  (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/usa/) (USA) USA  (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/mecca/) (Mecca) Mecca     (/build/images/svg/sprite.68b43361c11f23b39049016b32e6ae31.svg#icon-caret-down)   Read more  (/build/images/svg/sprite.68b43361c11f23b39049016b32e6ae31.svg#icon-caret-down)   Read less     (https://www.france24.com/en/naza-documentary-about-gaza-war-sparks-political-storm-in-israel) ('NAZA' documentary about Gaza war sparks political storm in Israel)  (/build/images/svg/sprite.68b43361c11f23b39049016b32e6ae31.svg#icon-play)      (https://www.france24.com/en/naza-documentary-about-gaza-war-sparks-political-storm-in-israel) 'NAZA' documentary about Gaza war sparks political storm in Israel   20/09/2026     Middle East       (https://www.france24.com/en/why-doesn-t-the-us-intervene-to-defend-saudi-arabia-against-the-houthis) (Why doesn't the US intervene to defend Saudi Arabia against the Houthis?)  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