Summary Houthi rebels threaten swift retaliation against US interests if Trump joins Saudi strikes on Yemen, escalating tensions after deadly Riyadh airport attacks.
WASHINGTON (Web Desk) - Houthi rebels threatened a "swift and painful" response against U.S. interests across the Middle East on Monday if President Donald Trump joins Saudi military strikes against the group, AFP reported.
"If the US becomes involved in the aggression against Yemen, we will not deliberate over the decision to respond, rather, there will be a swift and painful response targeting the US and all its interests in the region," Houthi political bureau member Mohammed Al Bukhaiti told the European news agency.
Bukhaiti also warned "all employees and workers at Saudi oil facilities and airports to stay away from these sites, as they have become legitimate targets".
The threats followed the group's deadly attack on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, which killed at least 13 people and wounded hundreds more.
Trump condemned the Riyadh attack Monday, stating it was unacceptable.
"The Houthis are misbehaving very badly. They're misbehaving very badly. No good," the president told reporters at the White House.
Trump, who described the airport attack as "not acceptable," also confirmed that he had spoken with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Meanwhile, explosions were again reported over Riyadh on Monday night, with the Saudi-led coalition saying it had intercepted a Houthi missile. The Houthis claimed another attack on the airport.
Bukhaiti had also told AFP the attacks were intended to warn the crown prince "that he can no longer wage aggression against Yemen from a safe position."
