US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has warned Iran that it will face severe consequences for its continued support of the Houthi rebels in Yemen, following a series of strikes against shipping in the Red Sea. These incidents have involved vessels from the United States as well as those bound for Israel.
The Houthis, who control northern Yemen, have claimed responsibility for targeting Israel-bound ships, justifying their actions as a demonstration of solidarity with Palestinians in the wake of the October 7 attack by Israeli forces on Gaza.
Tensions between Washington and Tehran have intensified after an Houthi drone forced a US F-18 aircraft to crash from the USS Harry Truman aircraft carrier into the Red Sea. The drone attack prompted strong condemnation from Washington, with officials accusing Iran of being the driving force behind the Houthis’ actions.
Hegseth issued a direct warning to Iran via social media, writing: “Message to IRAN: We see your LETHAL support to the Houthis. We know exactly what you are doing. You know very well what the US Military is capable of — and you were warned. You will pay the CONSEQUENCE at the time and place of our choosing.”
The incident in the Red Sea occurred just 47 days after the United States launched air strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen, further complicating the already fraught relationship between Washington and Tehran.
In response to the rising tensions, President Donald Trump reiterated his support for aggressive action against Iran in a retweet. He posted: “Let nobody be fooled! The hundreds of attacks being made by the Houthi, the sinister mobsters and thugs based in Yemen, who are hated by the Yemeni people, all emanate from, and are created by, IRAN.”
Trump further emphasised the Iranian regime’s direct involvement in supplying weapons and resources to the Houthis, stating: “Iran has played the ‘innocent victim’ of rogue terrorists from which they’ve lost control, but they haven’t lost control. They’re dictating every move, giving them the weapons, supplying them with money and highly sophisticated military equipment, and even, so-called, ‘Intelligence.’”
He concluded with a stark warning: “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, and those consequences will be dire!”
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