Houthis targeting Saudi at Iran's behest to sway oil prices before midterms: Trump

With attacks on Saudi Arabia threatening oil supplies and shipping routes across the Middle East, US President Donald Trump has accused Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis of deliberately trying to push up energy prices ahead of America's midterm elections. He also warned the group that he would not forget its attacks on the kingdom, signalling that there would be consequences after the November 3 polls.

In a post on Truth Social on Tuesday, Trump accused the Houthis of resuming attacks after a period of relative calm following US military strikes against the group last year. He alleged that the group had returned to action at Iran's behest and were



targeting Saudi Arabia in an attempt to disrupt oil markets before Americans vote in the midterm elections.

"The Houthis are behaving very badly," Trump wrote.

"Somebody should explain to them that I'm not running in the Elections, I've already won, IN A MASSIVE LANDSLIDE, but I'll be there after the Elections, and I will never forget!" he added.

This comes as the conflict involving the US, Iran and their regional allies spreads across the Middle East. The Houthis pounded Saudi targets, including Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport, forcing it to shut until October 17 and disrupting flights.