Saudi Arabia has warned Iran that sustained Houthi missile and drone strikes on its airports and energy infrastructure could force Riyadh to permit greater U.S. basing access or undertake direct retaliation, while emphasizing preference for diplomatic de-escalation. Recent Houthi attacks, including multiple strikes on Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport that killed at least 20 people over a week ending October 11, have prompted intensified Saudi-led coalition airstrikes against Houthi targets in Yemen and a diplomatic call between the two foreign ministers focused on reducing tensions. Saudi Arabia has conducted limited covert operations against Iranian-linked sites earlier in the broader 2026 conflict but has avoided overt cross-border strikes on Iranian territory, citing risks of wider escalation and ongoing regional mediation efforts.