US President, Donald Trump has said he may ask Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan to step in and support Saudi Arabia, as Houthi attacks on the kingdom intensify.

Speaking to reporters outside the White House on Tuesday, Trump said the Houthis, who control large parts of Yemen, were “behaving very badly” and that he “might” call on Erdogan to help protect Saudi interests. “President Erdogan, I think, would do as I ask,” he said.

Trump described Erdogan as a great friend and said he had spoken with Saudi Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Salman, but he did not say whether Washington would offer direct support or strike the Houthis.

He also accused the group of deliberately trying to push up oil prices ahead of the US midterm elections through its attacks on Saudi Arabia.

The Houthis have attacked King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh in recent days, killing at least 18 people, wounding hundreds and forcing the airport to suspend operations. On Tuesday, they threatened Riyadh and Saudi Aramco facilities after a coalition led by Saudi Arabia ordered civilians to leave an oil facility in the Yemeni capital, Sanaa, ahead of planned strikes.

Turkey has already moved closer to Riyadh’s side. Ankara recently pledged military aid to Saudi Arabia under a defence pact signed in August with Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, which treats an attack on one member as an attack on all.

Erdogan also spoke with the crown prince on Tuesday, condemned the Houthi attacks in the strongest terms and said Turkey would stand by the kingdom.

Fighting in Yemen reignited in July and is now unfolding alongside the wider war launched by the United States and Israel against Iran. Tehran has long backed the Houthis but insists the group makes its own decisions.

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