US President Donald Trump has issued a stark warning to Iran, stating that the country will face “dire” consequences if Yemen’s Houthi rebels persist in their assaults on international shipping routes.
Trump asserted that the Iranian leadership would be held accountable for “every shot fired by the Houthis,” a group that has long received support from Tehran. The Houthis recently claimed they targeted the USS Harry S Truman three times within two days, following US airstrikes on Yemen.
The Pentagon confirmed that since Saturday, it had engaged in strikes on 30 targets in Yemen, marking the largest US military operation in the Middle East since Trump resumed his presidency. In a statement on his Truth Social platform, Trump emphasized, “Every shot fired by the Houthis will be viewed as a shot fired from the weapons and leadership of IRAN.”
He further warned that Iran would “suffer the consequences,” which he described as severe. Trump accused Iran of providing the Houthis with financial resources, weaponry, and intelligence support, all of which Tehran has denied.
In a letter to the UN Security Council, Iran’s UN envoy refuted accusations of violating a UN arms embargo concerning Yemen, insisting that Iran is not involved in destabilizing activities in the area. Ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani labeled the US claims as “baseless accusations,” according to Reuters.
During a briefing, Pentagon officials indicated that the recent US strikes were broader in scope than operations approved during former President Joe Biden’s administration. Lt Gen Alex Grynkewich specified that drone experts among the Houthis were targeted, asserting there were “no credible indications of any civilian casualties.” The US has claimed that significant Houthi figures were among those killed, although the group has not verified this.
Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell clarified that the US does not seek regime change but aims to safeguard shipping lanes and defend its homeland. “This campaign will be relentless to degrade their capability,” he stated.
On Sunday morning, Houthi forces launched drones and missiles aimed at the USS Harry S Truman, with US aircraft reportedly intercepting approximately 11 of the drones. A ballistic missile fired by the Houthis fell into the sea far from the aircraft carrier. On Monday, the Houthis claimed a third attack on the ship within 48 hours disrupted planned US military responses. However, Pentagon officials noted that one missile fired by the Houthis missed by over 100 miles and emphasized that none of the attacks had been successful.
The Houthis reported that US airstrikes in Yemen’s Al Jaouf and Hudaydah regions resulted in at least 53 casualties, including five children, though these reports have not been independently verified by the BBC.
As tension escalates, the Houthis have threatened to continue targeting Red Sea shipping until Israel lifts its blockade of Gaza. They have claimed, albeit often inaccurately, that their targets in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden are limited to vessels linked to Israel, the US, or the UK. Since November 2023, the Houthis have sunk two ships, seized another, and killed four crew members. While they control Sanaa and much of northwestern Yemen, they are not recognized as the country’s legitimate government.
Credit: BBC News
