Houthis threaten swift retaliation against US if it joins Yemen war

Yemen’s Houthi movement has warned the United States of a swift and painful response if Washington joins Saudi Arabia’s military campaign against the group. The warning comes amid escalating regional tensions following deadly attacks on Saudi targets, including King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh.

Mohammed Al Bukhaiti, a member of the Houthi political bureau, said the group would target American interests across the region if the United States became directly involved in military operations against Yemen. He warned that the response would be immediate and severe.

Bukhaiti also urged employees and workers at Saudi oil facilities and airports to stay away from the sites, claiming they had become legitimate targets for Houthi attacks.

The warning followed a deadly strike on Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport on Saturday. Saudi authorities reported that the attack killed 13 people and wounded hundreds, making it one of the deadliest attacks on Saudi territory in more than a decade.

US President Donald Trump said Washington was considering joining Saudi strikes against the Houthis. He described the attacks as unacceptable and indicated that he would discuss the escalating situation with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the kingdom’s de facto leader.

Trump’s remarks came after Saudi Arabia reportedly sought greater American support against repeated Houthi attacks on its oil installations, transport hubs and other strategic infrastructure.

The conflict has intensified since Yemen’s civil war reignited in July amid a wider regional crisis. The Saudi-led coalition supports Yemen’s internationally recognised government against the Iran-backed Houthi movement, which controls significant territory, including the capital, Sanaa.

Fresh missile and drone threats were reported over Saudi Arabia on Monday. The Saudi-led coalition said it had intercepted and destroyed two ballistic missiles launched towards Khamis Mushait, a city in the kingdom’s south that hosts a military base. The Houthis also claimed responsibility for targeting the area with a drone.

Explosions were reported over Riyadh on Monday night, while Saudi authorities said the military coalition was responding to aerial threats. Residents also received a government alert warning of a hostile aerial threat, heightening anxiety in the capital.

The security situation has disrupted air travel across the kingdom. Operations at Riyadh’s international airport remained suspended on Monday following the weekend attack.

Etihad Airways cancelled flights to and from Riyadh until the following week and also suspended services to Dammam and Jeddah. Bahrain’s Gulf Air announced the cancellation of its Riyadh flights until Saturday, while US carrier Delta delayed the launch of its planned direct service between Atlanta and Riyadh, originally scheduled for October 23.

The US Embassy in Saudi Arabia advised American government employees to obtain authorisation before using airports in the kingdom. It also urged US citizens to exercise extreme caution when travelling by air. The embassy warned that American citizens had been detained for photographing recent events.

Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman said the recent attacks had tested the country’s infrastructure, institutions and public resilience. He stressed that the seriousness of the situation required an equally serious response.

Security analysts have warned that defending Saudi Arabia’s vast territory against repeated missile and drone attacks presents a major challenge, despite the kingdom’s substantial investment in military equipment and air defence systems.

The United Nations has also expressed concern over the escalation. UN human rights chief Volker Türk condemned the repeated attacks on Saudi Arabia and called on all sides to reduce tensions, warning that continued fighting would deepen suffering without offering a clear path towards peace.