Trump Warns Houthis Over Attacks, Considers Erdogan Intervention

US President Donald Trump criticized Yemen’s Houthi militants on Tuesday, accusing the Iran-backed group of escalating regional tensions as the ongoing US-Iran war continues to destabilize the Middle East.

Speaking to reporters, Trump said the Houthis were "behaving very badly" amid a surge in attacks targeting commercial shipping routes and Saudi Arabian infrastructure. The president also suggested he could seek assistance from Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to help protect Saudi interests.

The Houthis, who control significant portions of Yemen, have been engaged in a prolonged civil war against the Saudi-backed Yemeni government since 2014. However, fighting has intensified following the outbreak of the US-Iran conflict eight months ago, raising concerns about security across the region.

Recent Houthi operations have increasingly targeted commercial vessels navigating the Red Sea and the strategically important Bab al-Mandab Strait. The narrow waterway connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and serves as a critical passage for international shipping and global trade.

The escalation has also extended to Saudi Arabia, where Houthi attacks on Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport reportedly killed 13 people and injured more than 300 others in recent days.

The strikes disrupted aviation operations and forced the closure of airspace above the Saudi capital, highlighting the growing threat posed by the conflict to civilian infrastructure and regional transportation networks.

Amid the worsening security situation, Trump indicated that Turkey could potentially play a role in addressing the Houthi threat and supporting Saudi Arabia.

When asked about possible Turkish involvement, Trump said he "might" approach Erdogan about intervening.

"President Erdogan, I think, would do as I ask," Trump told reporters, expressing confidence that the Turkish leader would respond positively to such a request.

However, Trump did not provide details about what form Turkish assistance might take or whether Washington had already discussed the possibility with Ankara.

The latest developments underscore the expanding regional consequences of the US-Iran war, with Houthi attacks threatening maritime trade, aviation security, and stability across the Middle East.

Any potential Turkish involvement would introduce another regional power into efforts to contain the escalating violence surrounding Yemen and Saudi Arabia.