WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump has warned that the United States will respond forcefully if Yemen's Houthi group attempts to impose a naval blockade on Saudi Arabia or targets the kingdom's ports.

According to foreign media reports, Trump made the remarks during a joint press briefing with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun following their meeting at the White House.

The US president said Washington has the capability to deal with any Houthi attempt to disrupt shipping in the Red Sea or attack Saudi ports. He stressed that if such an incident occurs, the United States will take swift and decisive action.

"We'll handle it if it happens," Trump said, adding that the United States had previously carried out military operations against the Houthis and had not faced significant problems from the group for quite some time afterward.

Referring to the recent conflict involving Iran, Trump noted that the Houthis did not launch attacks against the United States during the confrontation, describing it as a positive development.

He also downplayed concerns about disruptions to maritime traffic in the Red Sea, saying the Houthis have not blocked shipping routes and that the United States is not currently facing any major issues in the region.

Trump further recalled the US air campaign against the Houthis in 2025, which lasted for nearly two months. He said the operation was followed by a ceasefire, after which Houthi activities declined significantly.

The remarks came after the Houthi group announced a naval blockade against Saudi Arabia and warned international shipping companies not to load or unload cargo at Saudi ports, threatening to target vessels that violate the warning.