Macron travels to Saudi Arabia on surprise stop amid Houthi strikes

French President Emmanuel Macron has travelled to Riyadh on an unannounced visit to express backing for Saudi Arabia as cross-border assaults by Yemen's Houthi movement escalate.

The stop in the Saudi capital was added to a wider three-day diplomatic circuit through the Gulf, which had already seen Macron travel to Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Kuwait. While in Riyadh, the French leader held talks with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

Upon landing at King Khalid International Airport, Macron was greeted by Riyadh's deputy governor, Prince Mohammed bin Abdulrahman, alongside Patrick Maisonnave, the French ambassador to the kingdom, according to state media. The airport itself has repeatedly been targeted during the recent escalation in cross-border strikes.

Macron represents the first head of state from a Western nation to travel to the kingdom since the Iran-aligned Houthis stepped up their offensive operations earlier this month. The French presidency stated that the trip was intended to affirm France's support for Saudi Arabia following attacks directed at its soil, while also serving broader goals to protect and broaden sources of hydrocarbon energy.

Saudi territory has suffered severe strikes as the worst clashes in Yemen in several years have extended across the frontier. Assaults aimed at the airport serving Riyadh resulted in 17 deaths and left 333 individuals wounded over the course of the month.

Riyadh initially launched military operations in Yemen's civil conflict in 2015 to back the country's government, acting out of concern over expanding Iranian influence and border instability after the Houthis took control of Sanaa. A United Nations-mediated ceasefire agreed in 2022 had largely maintained a delicate pause in major hostilities until this year.

Saudi forces recently restarted their intervention alongside the internationally recognised government after Houthi fighters made swift advances, pushing along the Red Sea coastline toward the strategically vital Bab Al Mandeb strait.