President Donald Trump has accused Yemen's Houthi militants of deliberately escalating attacks to drive up oil prices in the lead-up to the US midterm elections. He also issued a stern warning that he would "never forget" their actions, signaling potential repercussions for the group and its alleged backer, Iran.
In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump stated, "The Houthis are behaving very badly," asserting that the group had resumed attacks at Iran's direction following a period of reduced activity after US strikes in Yemen last year. He emphasized that his warning extended beyond the November 3 midterm elections, declaring, "I’ll be there after the elections, and I will never forget!"
This warning comes in the wake of several Houthi attacks targeting Saudi Arabia, including strikes on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh. These assaults have reportedly resulted in fatalities and significant casualties, necessitating the closure of the airport.
Earlier on Tuesday, President Trump indicated to reporters that he might seek intervention from Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan to support Saudi interests, expressing confidence in Erdogan's willingness to comply with such a request. The Houthis, who currently control substantial territories in Yemen, have been engaged in a civil war against the Saudi-backed Yemeni government since 2014.
The conflict has intensified amid the ongoing eight-month US-Iran confrontation, marked by the Houthis increasing their attacks on commercial shipping lanes in the Red Sea and the crucial Bab al-Mandab Strait. These renewed assaults have heightened concerns regarding potential disruptions to global oil supplies and shipping routes, with implications for rising energy prices.
