Saudi Foreign Minister: Houthi Threat Goes Global as Trump Waits

Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister said Thursday that the expanding threat posed by Iran-backed Houthi forces in Yemen reaches well beyond the kingdom’s borders. His warning came after Saudi air defenses intercepted six ballistic missiles fired toward the country, prompting a call for stronger international efforts to secure vital maritime trade routes.

Speaking with reporters on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud said Riyadh was working with Washington and other allies as Houthi attacks placed both Saudi territory and commercial shipping in the Red Sea at risk.

The Saudi-led coalition said its air defenses had shot down six ballistic missiles believed to have been launched by the Houthis toward the Saudi cities of Taif and Yanbu, Reuters reported. Officials had not immediately said whether the strikes caused injuries or property damage.

Authorities issued emergency alerts in multiple locations, including Jeddah and Mecca, before declaring that the immediate threat had subsided. Yanbu, a key Red Sea oil-export center, has taken on added importance as conflict involving Iran disrupts shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.

Asked by News Outlet whether Riyadh was receiving sufficient US assistance after reports that President Donald Trump had rejected Saudi requests for direct military action against the Houthis, Prince Faisal stressed that the kingdom could protect itself. He also argued that the situation required a unified international response.

“We are, of course, defending ourselves, and we are responding as necessary to Houthi attacks,” he said. “But we are also coordinating with all of our international allies, because this is not an issue that concerns Saudi Arabia alone.”

“The Houthis’ threats against Bab el-Mandeb and international shipping represent a danger to global security and stability,” Faisal said. “Addressing that danger cannot be Saudi Arabia’s responsibility alone; it must be a responsibility shared by the international community.”

The Saudi foreign minister expressed appreciation for nations already cooperating with Riyadh and said talks with Washington remained ongoing.

“We are obviously continuing to work with our partners in the United States to address the conflict as well,” he said.

Faisal spoke as the Trump administration faced renewed appeals from Saudi Arabia to launch military operations against the Houthi movement.

Axios reported Sept. 21 that Trump had weighed ordering strikes on the group over the weekend but ultimately chose not to proceed. The report said Saudi officials had once again requested US military support as Houthi forces gained ground in Yemen, while Washington continued supplying intelligence and assistance with targeting without directly joining the combat.

The Houthis’ territorial gains have heightened fears about the future of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a critical sea passage linking the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and an essential route for global commerce and Saudi oil shipments.

In recent weeks, the group has extended its hold along Yemen’s western coast, reaching areas near the strategically important waterway as clashes with Saudi-backed government forces have intensified.