Donald Trump earlier said he was considering joining Riyadh’s campaign against the Iran-backed movement in Yemen
Yemen’s Houthis have warned the US against joining Saudi Arabia’s military campaign, threatening to strike American forces if Washington intervenes in the escalating conflict.
The confrontation has intensified following deadly Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia’s main international airport. An attack on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on Saturday killed at least 13 people, including an American national, and injured more than 300, according to the latest figures. Another strike on Sunday left one person dead and 11 injured.
Speaking to RT on Sunday, officials in Houthi-controlled Sanaa warned that US military involvement would trigger retaliation, including against American warships in the Red Sea and the strategic Bab el-Mandeb Strait. The warning followed remarks by US President Donald Trump that Washington was “going to look at” joining Saudi strikes against the Iran-backed movement.
The latest escalation comes amid renewed fighting in Yemen’s decade-long conflict. The Houthis made major territorial gains along the Red Sea coast and around the Bab el-Mandeb Strait in September, including capturing the port city of Mocha. Saudi-backed government forces have since launched a counteroffensive, claiming to have recaptured key positions near the vital shipping route linking the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden.
Riyadh has stepped up airstrikes in support of the Yemeni government offensive, while the Houthis have vowed to continue targeting Saudi airports and infrastructure until the kingdom ends its military campaign and blockade of Yemen.
READ MORE: Riyadh airport hit again day after deadly Houthi strike
RT correspondent Jamal al-Ashwal reports from Sanaa on the escalating conflict, the Houthis’ warnings to Washington, and the need for a diplomatic solution.