Trump threatens Iran with “severe military punishment” for Houthi attacks

US President Donald Trump said on the social network TruthSocial that Washington will hold Iran responsible for new attacks by the Yemeni Houthis on commercial ships. If attacks are repeated, he said, “severe military punishment” will be applied against both Iran and the Houthis themselves.

Trump recalled that about a year ago, the United States launched powerful strikes on Houthi targets in response to shelling of ships. He noted that after this the group behaved “responsibly,” including during the US conflict with Iran, but now it has again begun to attack ships.

The statement came after the Houthis reported missile and drone strikes on two Saudi oil tankers, Encelia and Layla, in the Red Sea. Saudi authorities confirmed that a fire broke out on one of the ships after the attack; the crew was not injured.

The Houthis previously announced a naval blockade of Saudi Arabia and threatened to attack ships entering the kingdom’s ports. The attacks threaten shipping through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which is key to oil supplies and international trade.