President Donald Trump on Thursday warned that Houthi rebels will face consequences after the Iran-backed group attacked ships in the Red Sea, saying the militants had previously acted “very smart” and “very professionally” during the ongoing conflict involving the United States and Iran.
The comments came after the Houthis announced they had struck two Saudi ships attempting to transit the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a strategically important waterway located off Yemen’s western coast.
According to a report from The Hill, the group also claimed its actions forced “approximately 10 ships to retreat and return,” raising new concerns about commercial shipping through one of the world’s key maritime corridors.
In a statement cited by the outlet, the Houthis vowed to continue targeting Saudi vessels and warned of additional military action.
“The Armed Forces will continue their naval operations against the Saudi enemy and will persist in enforcing the ‘A siege for a siege’ equation,” the group said.
The statement continued with a warning directed at Saudi Arabia.
“We affirm to the Saudi enemy that any folly or aggression targeting our country will be met with large-scale operations deep within its territory, and the consequences will be dire for it, by Allah’s will and power.”
Hours later, Trump responded with a lengthy Truth Social post expressing disappointment with the group’s renewed attacks while also warning that the United States would hold Iran accountable if similar incidents occur again.
“A year ago the United States of America attacked, very powerfully, the Houthis, for their interference with commerce and trade, by shooting at ships,” Trump wrote. “Since that time, and during our conflict with Iran, they have acted very responsibly.”
The president said that changed following the attacks on the Saudi vessels.
“Unfortunately, now they are starting up again, shooting at two Saudi Arabian ships last night,” Trump wrote.
He went on to declare that any future attacks would carry serious consequences for both the Houthis and Iran.
“Please let this TRUTH serve to represent that if they do this again, the U.S. will hold Iran responsible, in that the Houthis are a Surrogate and/or Proxy of Iran, and major military punishment will be inflicted upon Iran and, of course, the Houthis, themselves,” Trump said.
The president also noted that he had been “very disappointed” with the Houthis, saying they had, until now, “acted very professionally and smart.”
Trump concluded the message by thanking readers for their attention before signing the post, “President DONALD J. TRUMP.”
The Houthis’ reported effort to restrict traffic through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait presents another challenge for the Trump administration as tensions continue to rise throughout the region.
The latest developments come as energy markets have already been reacting to Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, another critical shipping route for global oil supplies. According to the article, oil prices had risen sharply because of that blockade, and the Houthis’ actions in Yemen have added another obstacle affecting maritime traffic.
Earlier this week, Trump addressed the possibility of a Houthi blockade in the Red Sea, saying the United States would “take care of it” if the group followed through on those threats.
With the Houthis now claiming responsibility for attacks on Saudi ships and warning of additional operations, the administration is once again confronting heightened tensions in the region as commercial shipping routes remain under increasing pressure.
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