Washington. US President Donald Trump has said he is considering joining Saudi Arabia’s retaliation against Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen. After the deadly attack on Riyadh’s main airport, Trump’s move could draw America into another front of the ongoing war with Iran.
There was no immediate response from the White House in this regard on Sunday. This escalating conflict could impact oil supplies and prices around the world, as well as maritime trade. If the US gets involved in military action, the Houthi rebels could block shipping through the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, located at the southern end of the Red Sea near Yemen. Due to this, the supply of oil from the Persian Gulf may also be further affected.
Houthi rebels captured important areas near the strait last month. The Saudi Arabia-led coalition is trying to take back these areas. According to regional officials, Saudi Arabia is rapidly losing interceptors of defense systems that destroy missiles in the air. Saudi Arabia has requested France, Britain, Pakistan and Egypt to send help for air defense in the region.
An official also said that America’s own stockpile of missile interceptors has also decreased during the war with Iran. At the same time, Britain’s Defense Minister Wes Streeting has indicated that Britain can provide more assistance to Saudi Arabia.
