Trump Backed Saudi Strike on Sanaa Airport as Houthis Hit Abha Airport, Axios Says

According to Axios, President Trump gave Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman his support for a Saudi military strike against the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen, citing U.S. officials. Axios said Saudi Arabia notified Trump in advance and sought his backing; the two spoke by phone Friday after Saudi officials raised concerns with the U.S., including meetings between the Saudi ambassador in Washington and Secretary of State Marco Rubio and a call between Rubio and Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan. The Saudi military bombed Sanaa airport on Monday as an Iran-linked Mahan Air plane returned from Iran with a Houthi delegation, forcing the aircraft to divert to Al Hudaydah; a U.S. official alleged the plane carried weapons, missile parts and military experts. Axios reported the Houthis retaliated by firing ballistic missiles and drones at Abha airport in southwest Saudi Arabia and warned airlines not to fly in Saudi airspace until the blockade on Sanaa airport is lifted.