Houthis present the US with a dangerous choice in the Middle East

The Houthis have threatened to strike American interests in the Middle East if the US joins the Saudi campaign in Yemen. Politburo member Mohammed Al-Bukhaiti stated that the response would be swift and painful. Donald Trump called the Houthis' behavior highly inappropriate. Riyadh had previously requested Washington's assistance, but the administration had rejected the requests.

The Houthis have threatened to strike American interests in the Middle East if the United States joins Saudi Arabia's military campaign in Yemen. Politburo member Mohammed Al-Bukhaiti told AFP that the response would be swift and painful. The threats come amid a series of Houthi attacks on Saudi oil infrastructure, ships, and transport facilities. On Saturday, a US citizen was killed in a shelling of Riyadh's international airport. On Monday evening, explosions were heard again over the Saudi capital: the coalition reported intercepting a missile, while the Houthis claimed a new attack on the airport. US President Donald Trump called the Houthis' behavior "highly inappropriate" and hinted at possible support for Saudi strikes. Previously, the administration had rejected Riyadh's requests for military assistance. A new round of fighting in Yemen began in July amid a broader regional conflict.