US Senator Chris Murphy on Sunday came out firmly against American military involvement in Yemen, days after a deadly Houthi missile attack on Riyadh's international airport killed at least 12 people and injured 309 others, including one American fatality and 11 Indian nationals.

Murphy's Warning Against Escalation

Murphy, a Connecticut Democrat, told CBS programme Face the Nation that he had passed through Riyadh airport the day before Saturday's attack, following meetings with Saudi and Qatari officials aimed at exploring a negotiated end to the conflict.

'Yes, I was in that airport the day before, having visited the Saudis and the Qataris, who are trying to negotiate an end to the war,' he said. Describing the situation on the ground as a conflict 'spiraling out of control', Murphy was unequivocal when asked whether US retaliation was appropriate: 'No, I don't think the United States should go to war in Yemen.'

He cautioned that American military action would 'simply escalate and make the situation even more dangerous if we then went to war not only with Iran, but with the Houthis in Yemen as well.' Instead, he called for a unilateral end to American hostilities and urged regional partners to take the lead in reopening the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea.

Scale of the Attack and Pentagon Disclosures

Host Margaret Brennan confirmed during the broadcast that 12 people were killed and 309 injured in the strike, with at least one American among the dead. Separately, the Pentagon disclosed that 20 American fatalities occurred on Saturday, though the precise breakdown in relation to the airport strike was not specified in the broadcast.

The Houthis, an Iran-backed movement controlling much of northern Yemen, have intensified attacks on Saudi airports, military installations, and oil facilities since a Saudi-led coalition launched a fresh offensive against them this month. This comes amid a broader pattern of Houthi strikes that have repeatedly disrupted civilian infrastructure across the region.

Indian Casualties: Embassy Response and MEA Statement

The Indian Embassy in Riyadh confirmed on Sunday that 11 Indian nationals were among those injured in the attack. In a subsequent update posted on X, the Embassy reported that one Indian national injured in the strike had 'unfortunately lost his life', adding that it was in contact with the family and would support 'the early repatriation of mortal remains'.

Embassy officials subsequently visited all hospitals where injured Indians had been admitted. Of those receiving treatment, three were described as being 'in ICU but stable', two were in normal wards, and the remaining had been discharged.

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said he was 'deeply grieved at the loss of life of an Indian national in the Riyadh attack' and confirmed that the Embassy would 'extend all possible assistance', in a post on X. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) also issued a formal statement late on Saturday, declaring that 'the repeated attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure are completely unacceptable and must cease immediately.'

Notably, Saudi Arabia is home to approximately 2.74 million Indians, according to Embassy figures, making it one of the largest Indian diaspora communities in the world.

Trump's Response and Diplomatic Signals

President Donald Trump described the attack as 'a terrible thing' on Saturday and indicated he would speak to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. However, no readout of that call had been released by Sunday evening. The US had also, as of Sunday, not committed to retaliating militarily on behalf of Saudi Arabia.

With diplomatic channels still open and regional actors including Qatar engaged in mediation, the coming days will test whether de-escalation diplomacy can outpace the military momentum on the ground.