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US President Donald Trump has said that any further attacks by Yemeni Houthis on US ships will be met with “great force”, and that Iran, which supports them, will face “dire consequences”. He made this statement on 17 March on his Truth Social social media platform.
“The hundreds of attacks carried out by the Houthis, the sinister thugs and thugs based in Yemen, all originate 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 this force will stop there,” Trump wrote.
Iran under attack from Washington
Trump accused Iran of not only supporting the Houthis, but also controlling their actions at every stage – financing, supplying weapons, equipment and providing intelligence.
“Every shot fired by the Houthis will henceforth be seen as a shot fired from a weapon and under Iranian leadership, and Iran will respond and have consequences, and those consequences will be terrible,” the US president warned.
Trump’s statement is the harshest rhetoric against Tehran in recent months and reflects growing tensions in the Red Sea, where Houthis have repeatedly attacked US and allied vessels.
What is happening in the Red Sea?
Yemeni Houthis, backed by Iran, regularly attack shipping in the Red Sea, claiming that their targets are ships linked to Israel. However, ships belonging to the United States, the United Kingdom and other Western countries are often targeted.
Washington has previously struck Houthi positions in response to their attacks, but Trump’s current statement hints at a possible significant expansion of military operations against Tehran.
Trump’s statement may indicate preparations for a more severe scenario in the region, where Washington has already deployed significant naval forces. If the US starts directly striking Iranian targets, the situation could escalate into a direct confrontation between the two countries.
Tehran has not yet commented on Trump’s threats, but has repeatedly stated that it has no direct control over the Houthis and that their actions are an “independent struggle”.
What’s next?
Against the backdrop of the escalating situation in the Red Sea and Trump’s ultimatum, there is a growing likelihood of a new round of conflict that could go far beyond Yemen.
Will the United States launch an open attack on Iran? Will Tehran respond? The international community is preparing for another escalation in the Middle East.
