President Donald Trump issued a stern warning on Thursday, stating that the United States will hold Tehran accountable if the Yemeni Houthi group continues to target commercial vessels. The President’s remarks followed an announcement from the Houthi group, which claimed responsibility for an attack on two Saudi Arabian oil tankers using a combination of ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and drones.
Writing on his Truth Social platform, Trump recalled that the U.S. had previously taken powerful military action against the Houthis a year ago due to their interference with maritime trade. He noted that while the group had acted in a professional and responsible manner for a period following that conflict, their recent actions have led to renewed disappointment. Trump explicitly characterized the Houthi movement as a proxy or surrogate for Iran, warning that any further aggression would result in significant military punishment directed at both the militants and the Iranian government.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio also addressed the situation on Thursday, urging the Houthis to distance themselves from the broader conflict in the Middle East. Rubio claimed that the militants had been "suckered into" the regional struggle by Iranian influence. Expressing hope that the attacks would cease, Rubio emphasized that the Houthis should refrain from further involvement in the ongoing hostilities.
