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World Service,15 Oct 2026,26 mins

Why Trump is not going to war with the Houthis

The Global Story

Available for over a year

Is Washington leaving Saudi Arabia to fend for itself? Last week, Houthi rebels launched a series of missile strikes on Riyadh, Saudi Arabia鈥檚 capital. Surveillance footage showed a fireball erupting as airport passengers ran for cover. At least 14 people have been killed and hundreds were injured. The attack is the latest escalation in a decade-long war between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis in neighbouring Yemen. The Saudis have long relied on financial, military and intelligence support from the United States, particularly in their fight against the Houthis. But Washington so far has shown little appetite for direct involvement in the fighting. So why is the United States holding back? And what does that mean for the people caught in the middle? The 麻豆社鈥檚 chief international investigations correspondent, Nawal al-Maghafi, recently reported from inside Yemen and joins The Global Story鈥檚 Asma Khalid to discuss why this conflict is escalating and what might happen next. (Photo: Houthi supporters rally against Saudi Arabia in Sanaa, Yemen, 9 October 2026. Credit:Yahya Arhab / EPA / Shutterstock) Producer: Cat Farnsworth and Mhairi MacKenzie Sound engineer: Travis Evans Executive producer: Martine Powers Digital producer: Charlie Firth Senior news editor: China Collins

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