Houthi official warns of ‘swift, painful response’ if US joins Yemen war

SANAA: A Houthi official has warned the US that it would face a "swift and painful response" if it joins Saudi Arabia in the Yemeni conflict, where the US is reportedly being asked for assistance against the Iran-backed Houthis. The civil war erupted in July and has since escalated, with the Houthis targeting Saudi oil facilities, tankers and transport hubs, including a severe assault on Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport on October 10, 2026.

The attack resulted in numerous casualties and prompted President Donald Trump to consider joining Saudi strikes against the group.

Houthi political bureau member Mohammed Al Bukhaiti stated, "If the US becomes involved in the aggression against Yemen, there will be no deliberation over the decision to respond; there will be a swift and painful response targeting the US and all its interests in the region." He also advised all employees and workers at Saudi oil facilities and airports to stay away from those sites, as they have become legitimate targets.

Saturday's attack at the airport was the deadliest on Saudi soil in over a decade and left hundreds injured. Trump expressed his commitment to look into the possibility of joining Saudi strikes against the Houthis. The Saudi energy minister described the recent events as testing the nation's infrastructure, institutions, people, and resilience, stating that the response must be equally serious.