A missile strike on Saudi Arabia’s King Khalid International Airport has forced a sudden shift in U.S. strategy ahead of the midterm elections, upending plans to de-escalate tensions in Iran and Yemen. The attack, which extended the conflict’s violence into Saudi territory, has complicated the president’s approach to regional wars, originally framed as a low-profile issue until after the vote. Meanwhile, the administration’s attempt to deflect blame for rising diesel prices onto Ukraine’s strikes on Russian oil infrastructure has drawn criticism, raising questions about the sustainability of its dual strategy. The rapid escalation comes just days after the president outlined his diplomatic priorities, signaling potential instability in the Middle East ahead of key political deadlines.
US president’s plan to park the wars in Iran and Yemen, while blaming Ukraine for diesel prices, looks unsustainableMiddle East crisis live - latest updatesThe reckless missile attack on King Khalid international airport in Riyadh on Saturday did not just export the death and misery inside Yemen to Saudi Arabia, it also left Donald Trump forced to reconsider his diplomatic and political strategy designed to take him into the midterm elections next month.The US president’s plan had only been unveiled on Friday. He said it was the result of “a world problem” – spiralling diesel prices – which he blamed on Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s attacks on Russian oil refineries. He was going to keep the political temperature down on his war of choice in Iran and its spillover in Yemen until after the midterms. Continue reading...
