Trump warns Houthis and says he may ask Turkey’s Erdogan to intervene after Saudi airport attacks

Former President Donald J. Trump warned the Yemen‑based Houthi militia on Tuesday, saying the group was “not nice” after a series of attacks on Saudi Arabia’s King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh killed at least a dozen people and injured more than 300.

Trump told a reporter he might ask Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to help strike the “Iran‑backed terror group,” adding, “I have a lot of respect for the president of Turkey. He is a great friend of mine.”

The attacks, which involved missiles and drones, targeted airport terminals on October 8 and again on October 10, resulting in the death of an American citizen and dozens of others. Saudi officials reported that the Houthis launched multiple drones to pave the way for cruise and ballistic missiles, overwhelming the kingdom’s air defenses.

In response, Trump said the Houthis were “behaving very badly” and reiterated that the United States was weighing possible retaliatory measures. He noted that he had previously ordered extensive bombing of the group and, at their request, stopped those operations.

Houthi political bureau member Mohammed Al Bukhaiti warned that if the United States were to become involved, the group would launch a “swift and painful” response targeting U.S. interests and Saudi oil facilities. The statement followed reports that the Houthis were acting with Iranian support.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has been briefed on the situation, but Trump has not yet decided whether to commit U.S. forces to the Saudi‑led coalition. The president’s comments came during campaign activities, highlighting how regional security issues are intersecting with the upcoming U.S. election calendar.

U.S. officials said they will continue to monitor the situation and assess diplomatic options, while Turkish officials have not yet confirmed any planned involvement.