US President Donald Trump criticised Yemen’s Houthis on Monday after their attacks on Saudi Arabia intensified, as the kingdom extended the closure of Riyadh’s main airport and airlines suspended flights to Saudi cities amid escalating regional tensions.
“The Houthis are misbehaving very badly. No good,” Trump told reporters when asked about the group’s latest attacks.
Trump has previously said Washington would consider joining Saudi Arabia in military operations against the Houthis, but has not announced a decision.
Saudi Arabia extended the suspension of operations at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh until Saturday to verify the safety of its facilities and operational readiness, according to the kingdom’s civil aviation authority.
The airport has been targeted repeatedly over the past week, with attacks killing at least 18 people and injuring hundreds, according to the supplied reports.
Etihad Airways cancelled flights between Abu Dhabi and Riyadh until October 19, while services to Dammam were heavily disrupted. Qatar Airways also temporarily suspended flights to and from Riyadh and Dammam, citing regional tensions.
Saudi air defences intercepted missiles targeting Riyadh and two ballistic missiles fired towards Khamis Mushait, while the kingdom launched an investigation into possible failures in its air defence systems.
Saudi Arabia investigates air defence failures
Saudi Arabia is investigating how Houthi missiles and drones reached Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport despite the kingdom’s air defence systems, the Associated Press reported, citing two regional officials who spoke on condition of anonymity.
The initial investigation indicated that the Houthis launched multiple drones before firing cruise and ballistic missiles, the officials said. The probe is also examining why the systems did not provide earlier warning of the attack.
The missiles and drones travelled more than 1,000 km to reach Riyadh, according to one official. Houthi forces possess ballistic missiles and systems capable of changing direction during flight, potentially complicating interception by Patriot systems, the AP report said.
The Saudi-led coalition said two ballistic missiles fired towards the Khamis Mushait airbase had been intercepted and destroyed.
Houthis warn Washington against intervention
A Houthi official warned Washington of a “swift and painful response” if the United States intervened further in Yemen’s war, as the group continued its campaign against Saudi targets.
The warning followed Trump’s criticism of the Houthis and renewed discussion of possible US involvement in military operations alongside Saudi Arabia.
The Houthis also released footage of military operations in Marib, while fighting continued between the Iran-aligned group and forces loyal to Yemen’s internationally recognised government.
Separately, Yemen’s Houthi-run Al Masirah television reported four air attacks in the governorates of Hodeidah and Amran. There were no immediate reports of casualties or damage.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard reports tanker strike
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said its navy had struck a supertanker attempting to cross the Strait of Hormuz using what it described as an unauthorised route.
The vessel caught fire after being hit, the IRGC said in a statement published on its Sepah News platform. It accused the ship of disabling its transponders and ignoring warnings from the Guards’ navy.
The claim could not be independently verified from the supplied reports. The British maritime agency UKMTO separately reported four incidents involving vessels being hit in the strait on Sunday.
IRGC commander-in-chief Major-General Ahmad Vahidi said powers outside the region had no right to interfere in the Strait of Hormuz or the Persian Gulf.
The waterway is a critical route for global energy supplies, and disruptions have heightened concerns about oil shipments and regional security.
Iran signals diplomatic efforts
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran was seriously pursuing diplomatic efforts to advance its national interests, including seeking an end to US and Western sanctions.
Iran has also offered to facilitate talks between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis. Araghchi made the proposal during a phone call with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, warning that a military approach would complicate the crisis.
The diplomatic outreach comes as the conflict widens across the region, with attacks on Saudi Arabia, maritime incidents in the Strait of Hormuz and continued fighting in Yemen adding to pressure for a resolution.
