Houthis Threaten US interests across the Middle East if Washington joins the fight in Yemen. The warning came after a deadly strike on Riyadh’s King Khalid airport that left 13 people dead and hundreds injured.
A senior Houthi official spoke out on Monday with a clear message. Mohammed Al Bukhaiti, a member of the group’s political bureau, told reporters that any American move into the Yemen conflict would bring an immediate reaction. “If the US becomes involved in the aggression against Yemen, we will not deliberate over the decision to respond. Rather, there will be a swift and painful response targeting the US and all its interests in the region,” he said.
The latest tension follows months of renewed fighting in Yemen. Saudi Arabia leads a coalition that backs the Yemeni government against the Iran-backed Houthis. After the war heated up again in July, the Houthis began hitting Saudi oil sites, tankers, and transport hubs. The Saturday attack on Riyadh’s main airport stands as the deadliest strike on Saudi soil in more than a decade.
President Donald Trump has called the Houthis “misbehaving very badly” and said the United States is looking at the possibility of joining Saudi strikes. He plans to speak with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. In response, Bukhaiti urged workers at Saudi oil facilities and airports to stay away, calling those sites legitimate targets. He added that the attacks aim to show the crown prince that Saudi Arabia can no longer strike Yemen from a safe position.
Saudi forces reported intercepting ballistic missiles near Riyadh and in the south near Khamis Mushait. Airlines have reacted quickly. Etihad Airways cancelled all flights to Riyadh, Dammam, and Jeddah. Gulf Air halted Riyadh services until Saturday. Delta delayed its planned Atlanta to Riyadh route. The US embassy advised American citizens to use extreme caution and noted that some travelers had been detained for taking photos.
Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman described recent events as a serious test of the kingdom’s resilience and said the response must match that seriousness. UN human rights chief Volker Turk condemned the repeated attacks while urging both sides to de-escalate, warning that continued fighting will only bring more suffering.
The situation remains tense. Phone alerts sounded across Riyadh on Monday night as the coalition tracked further threats. Yemen’s long civil war has already created a severe humanitarian crisis, and further escalation risks spreading instability across the region.
