Houthis Warn of 'Painful' Response If US Enters Yemen War

A senior Houthi official has warned that the group will deliver a painful response if the United States enters Yemen's war. According to reports, Saudi Arabia, which has been the target of Houthi attacks, has requested American assistance. US President Donald Trump has said he is considering the matter. In an interview with AFP, Mohammed Al-Bukhaiti, a member of the Houthis' political bureau, said that if America enters this war, they will not think twice about responding. "We will give a quick and painful response targeting all American interests in the Middle East," he said. Backed by Iran, the Houthi militant group, which controls Yemen's capital Sanaa and several other areas, attacked King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, the Saudi capital, the night before. The Houthis also carried out a heavy attack on the same airport last Saturday, in which 12 people were killed and 309 were injured. Al-Bukhaiti has called on all employees and workers at Saudi oil infrastructure and airports to stay away from those areas. He said the purpose of attacking Saudi targets is to send a message to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Saudi Arabia supports Yemen's internationally recognised government. Saudi Arabia has been fighting since 2015 after forming an international coalition against the Houthis, with the aim of liberating areas taken under Houthi control. Although some peace was established between the two sides in 2022, the war has again intensified since the middle of this year.