U.S. President Donald Trump warned Iran and the Houthi militia of severe military consequences if they continue to attack ships in the Red Sea. The warning follows recent Houthi attacks on Saudi tankers and concerns over disruptions in crucial shipping lanes.
The escalating tensions in the Red Sea, involving Houthi attacks and U.S. military responses, pose a significant risk to global energy markets and international shipping lanes, potentially impacting global trade and energy prices.
U.S. President Donald Trump issued a stern warning on Thursday, stating that Iran and the Iran-aligned Houthi militia will face "major military punishment" should the Houthis attack ships in the Red Sea again. The statement was made via a social media post on Truth Social.
Trump's warning comes after reports that the Houthi militia in Yemen attacked two Saudi Arabian tankers earlier in the week. The Houthis claimed the ships had violated their announced maritime blockade on Saudi Arabia in the Red Sea. Trump referenced a previous U.S. military action against the Houthis a year prior for interfering with commerce and trade, noting their responsible behavior since then, but expressed dismay at their renewed actions.
"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 wrote.
The Houthis had announced their maritime blockade on Saudi Arabia on Monday, intensifying concerns about potential disruptions to the Red Sea, a vital energy export corridor, particularly as tensions persist in the Strait of Hormuz. Following the blockade announcement, Trump had stated that the United States would address the militia's actions if they proceeded.