US President Donald Trump directly held Iran responsible for the recent Houthi attacks, warning that any further aggression would bring severe consequences. The Tehran-backed Houthis have repeatedly targeted US and foreign ships in the Red Sea, escalating tensions in the region.
Trump Accuses Iran of Controlling the Houthis
Taking to Truth Social, Trump blamed Iran for orchestrating the attacks. He declared, “Let nobody be fooled! The hundreds of attacks being made by Houthi, the sinister mobsters and thugs based in Yemen, who are hated by the Yemeni people, all emanate from, and are created by, IRAN. Any further attack or retaliation by the ‘Houthis’ will be met with great force, and there is no guarantee that that force will stop there.”
Furthermore, he accused Iran of actively directing the Houthis. He stated, “Iran has played ‘the innocent victim’ of rogue terrorists from which they’ve lost control, but they haven’t lost control. They’re dictating every move, giving them the weapons, supplying them with money and highly sophisticated military equipment, and even, so-called, Intelligence.”
Trump Warns of Consequences for Iran
As a result, Trump issued a direct threat. He warned, “Every shot fired by the Houthis will be looked upon, from this point forward, as being a shot fired from the weapons and leadership of IRAN, and IRAN will be held responsible, and suffer the consequences, and those consequences will be dire!”
Shortly before his statement, the US launched its first airstrikes on Yemen under Trump’s new term. These strikes killed 53 people and injured 98. The US military targeted Houthi positions to weaken their ability to attack shipping vessels in the Red Sea. Since the Houthis had repeatedly disrupted trade routes, the US responded with force.
Houthis Retaliate with Strikes and Protests
In response, the Houthis claimed responsibility for two attacks on a US aircraft carrier. Additionally, they organized mass protests in areas under their control. The rebels insisted they acted in support of Palestinians in Gaza, where Israel continues military operations with US backing.
Previously, the Houthis had paused their attacks in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden after a Gaza ceasefire on January 19. However, after the latest US airstrikes, they resumed their assaults.
Trump’s Iran Strategy
On the one hand, Trump has pushed for a new nuclear deal with Iran. On the other hand, he has revived his “maximum pressure” policy by tightening sanctions. His administration seeks to weaken Iran’s influence while avoiding direct military conflict.
With tensions escalating, Trump’s warning signals stronger US action if attacks continue. If Iran does not back down, the conflict could intensify even further.