Houthis threaten US with ‘swift and painful’ response as Trump weighs strikes

Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels have threatened retaliation against the United States if Washington joins Saudi strikes on the group. There would be “a swift and painful response targeting the US and all its interests in the region,” Houthi political bureau member Mohammed al-Bukhaiti told AFP. He urged workers at Saudi oil facilities and airports to stay away, calling the sites “legitimate targets.”

According to India’s The Week, citing the AFP interview, al-Bukhaiti also said the Houthis would back internal efforts to oust Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, including protests, opposition movements and moves from within the ruling family.

President Donald Trump said after Saturday’s missile strike on Riyadh airport, which killed 13 people, that the US would look at joining Saudi strikes. On Monday he said only: “The Houthis are misbehaving very badly.” He did not announce a decision. Overnight, the Saudi-led coalition said it again intercepted Houthi missiles, including two aimed at the Khamis Mushait base. UN human rights chief Volker Türk said he was appalled by repeated Houthi attacks on Saudi airports and urged all sides to avert further catastrophe.