Houthi missiles kill at least 12 at Saudi Arabia’s main airport
The high price of oil, with just three weeks to go before the midterm elections, has constrained the White House as it faces two foreign-policy crises, according to The Wall Street Journal. Houthi missiles hit two terminals at Saudi Arabia’s main airport on Saturday, killing at least 12 people and injuring hundreds more, and President Trump announced Sunday that Ukraine and Russia would observe a ceasefire on strikes against each other’s energy sites.
Saudi Arabia has requested U.S. help following escalating attacks by the Iran-backed Houthis, but the White House has so far refused to directly engage militarily. Trump said Saturday the U.S. could join the Saudis in strikes against the Houthis.
The Journal reported that U.S. involvement might draw the Houthis to attack more ships moving through the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, which would further drive up the price of oil. By standing back, the report said, the Houthis have been focusing their missile attacks more squarely on Saudi Arabia, a close U.S. ally that is now left to fend for itself.
While the airport attack was unfolding on Saturday, Trump called for the ouster of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. “I think it’s time for Ukraine to get a new president,” Trump told reporters Saturday. Regarding Ukraine’s airstrikes against Russia, Trump said of Zelensky, “He better damn well stop.”
On Sunday, Trump announced that both Ukraine and Russia would observe a ceasefire on strikes on each other’s energy sites. The Journal reported that Trump has announced a similar ceasefire before, and it didn’t last. Ukraine has indicated that it would support a new ceasefire, but Russia hasn’t commented publicly.
Trump has alleged that Ukraine’s attacks on Russian energy targets are why global diesel prices are so high. Before the conflict with Iran, the Middle East was the top exporter of diesel, The Wall Street Journal has reported. Diesel prices in the U.S. were $6.28 on Sunday, according to AAA, up from $3.67 one year ago, a rise most analysts attribute to the war in Iran.
On Friday, Trump rolled back sanctions against Russia to make it easier for the country to sell oil and announced a limited energy deal with Russia. Zelensky was sharply critical, alleging the move would only embolden Russia to kill more people in Ukraine.
When Trump launched the Iran war on Feb. 28, he estimated it would last four or five weeks, an estimate the Journal reports has not proved accurate. A global energy mess is now spiraling and ensnaring more countries, according to the report, a situation it says is not helping Republican candidates at the polls and is causing new friction between the U.S. and a growing number of allies abroad.