Saudi Foreign Minister Meets US Secretary of State Amid Heightened Houthi Threats

Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister, arrived in Washington on Monday to hold talks with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The meeting comes as tensions between Riyadh and Yemen’s Houthi movement intensify.

The two leaders will discuss bilateral relations and a range of regional and global issues. Earlier this month, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman sought U.S. military support to counter the Iran‑backed Houthis, but Washington declined to carry out strikes. Instead, the U.S. agreed to provide intelligence and targeting assistance.

The timing of the visit follows the Saudi‑led coalition’s interception of two ballistic missiles and two drones launched by the Houthis toward the kingdom. According to coalition statements, the missiles were aimed at Khamis Mushait and the drones were headed for Riyadh. Saudi Civil Defense issued alerts for Khamis Mushait and Abha, but not for Riyadh.

The talks are scheduled during the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly, which began on September 22, 2026, at the UN headquarters in New York City.