U.S. President Donald Trump has issued a stark warning to Iran, holding the country directly responsible for any future attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebels, a Tehran-backed militia that has intensified its aggression in the Red Sea.
“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,” Trump declared on his Truth Social platform on Monday.
According to a report by The Times of Israel, Trump's warning follows a wave of U.S. airstrikes on Houthi-controlled territories in Yemen over the weekend, which resulted in at least 53 deaths and nearly 100 injuries.
These marked the first American military actions in Yemen since Trump began his second term. In response, the Houthis claimed to have targeted a U.S. aircraft carrier and other foreign ships in the Red Sea, a key global trade route.
Since November 2023, the Houthis have carried out dozens of attacks on vessels transiting the Red Sea, citing solidarity with Palestinians amid the ongoing Gaza war. The group has also launched direct missile and drone strikes against Israel, prompting retaliatory Israeli strikes on Houthi assets in Yemen.
Trump has vowed to intensify military action if the rebels continue their attacks. “Any further attack or retaliation by the ‘Houthis’ will be met with great force,” he stated, accusing Iran of playing “the innocent victim” while actively supporting the militants.
Following the deadly U.S. strikes, anti-American demonstrations erupted across Houthi-controlled areas, including the capital Sanaa, Saada, Dhamar, Hodeida, and Amran. Protesters, many wielding assault rifles, daggers, and Qurans, chanted slogans such as “Death to America, Death to Israel!” Footage aired by the Houthis’ Al-Masirah TV station captured the intensity of the demonstrations.
In Sanaa, a sea of demonstrators at Al-Sabeen Square waved giant Yemeni and Palestinian flags, marking a continued show of defiance. Houthi leader Abdulmalik al-Houthi had called for the protests to coincide with the anniversary of the Battle of Badr, a historic Islamic military victory.
Washington has reiterated its commitment to safeguarding international trade routes and countering Houthi aggression. U.S. National Security Adviser Michael Waltz stated that recent strikes “targeted multiple Houthi leaders and took them out.” The Houthis, however, have not confirmed any leadership casualties.
The Times of Israel report highlights that the Red Sea, which handles approximately 12% of global shipping traffic, has seen growing disruptions due to Houthi attacks, forcing companies to reroute vessels around southern Africa at significant costs.
Meanwhile, global powers have called for de-escalation. The United Nations urged all parties to “cease military activity,” while China called for “dialogue and negotiation,” warning against actions that could further destabilize the region.
The Houthis, who seized control of Sanaa in 2014, have been engaged in a decade-long war with a Saudi-led coalition supporting Yemen’s internationally recognized government. Although a UN-brokered ceasefire in 2022 had largely halted fighting, Houthi attacks in response to the Gaza war have reignited tensions.
Despite U.S. military action, the rebels have vowed to continue their campaign unless Israel lifts its blockade on Gaza. Houthi media also reported additional explosions on Sunday, accusing the U.S. of striking a cotton facility in Hodeida and targeting the Galaxy Leader, a cargo ship the group hijacked in November 2023.
With Trump warning of “overwhelming lethal force” and the Houthis pledging to escalate further, the conflict shows no sign of abating, raising fears of broader regional instability in the months ahead.
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