US President Donald Trump said that Iran will be held directly responsible for any future attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebels, who have repeatedly targeted US and foreign ships in the Red Sea.
“Every shot fired by the Houthis will be looked upon, from this point forward, as a shot fired from the weapons and leadership of Iran. Iran will be held responsible and suffer the consequences,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.
While the US has been conducting strikes on Houthi targets for months, Trump’s remarks mark an unusually direct warning to Tehran, which he is also pressuring over nuclear negotiations.
His statement came after US airstrikes on Yemen—his administration’s first since returning to office—killed 53 people and wounded 98 on Saturday. In response, the Houthis claimed responsibility for two strikes on a US aircraft carrier and organized mass protests in areas under their control.
The US launched the strikes in retaliation for Houthi attacks on Red Sea shipping vessels, which have disrupted a key global trade route. The Houthis maintain that their actions are in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, where Israel continues its military campaign with US backing.
“Any further attack or retaliation by the ‘Houthis’ will be met with great force,” Trump warned, accusing Iran of portraying itself as an “innocent victim” in the conflict.
Before the latest escalation, the Houthis had not claimed any attacks in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden since January 19, when a ceasefire in Gaza took effect.
