Moment Houthi and pro-Saudi forces fight 'Mad Max-style' desert battle as Kingdom 'rejects Israel's help' in war against Yemen's Iran-backed rebels
From the Newshound archive · first published 13 October 2026 · last updated 14 October 2026.
Umrah pilgrims at King Khalid International Airport, Riyadh — the site struck by a Houthi ballistic missile built using AI-written guidance software developed in place of human weapons engineers.A Houthi missile on rocky desert terrain in Yemen, where an AI-assisted cell developed self-correcting ballistic missiles targeting ranges of more than 1,500 miles using Claude instead of human weapons engineers.
A ballistic missile struck Saudi Aramco's headquarters complex in Dhahran, sparking a fire, as Houthi forces pressed their most ambitious assault on Saudi Arabia in years. Trump blasted the group on Truth Social, saying the US had previously "bombed the HELL out of them" and accusing the Houthis of reemerging "probably at the behest of Iran." At least 14 people have been killed and more than 300 injured since Saturday's devastating strike on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, which remains shut until Saturday.
Trump told reporters he might ask Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan to strike the Houthis, adding: 'I think he would do as I ask.'
At least 572 flights have been cancelled from Riyadh's airport, with Air France KLM suspending services until the end of October.
Experts warn Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 megaproject programme is reportedly 'under serious threat' after the attacks shattered the kingdom's image as an investment safe haven.
