President Donald J. Trump issued a statement Thursday condemning renewed attacks by the Iran‑backed Houthi rebels on commercial vessels in the Red Sea.
He warned that the United States would hold Iran accountable, describing the Houthis as a proxy of Tehran, and indicated that “major military punishment” could be directed at both parties.
The remarks follow a series of Houthi missile and drone strikes that targeted two Saudi‑flagged ships near the Bab al‑Mandeb Strait on Wednesday.
Earlier, in spring 2025, the United States conducted a month‑long campaign, Operation Rough Rider, that significantly degraded Houthi capabilities after previous assaults on shipping.
Since that operation, the Houthis had limited attacks, but the recent incidents mark a resurgence of hostilities.
In parallel, U.S. forces carried out a twelfth consecutive night of airstrikes against Iranian military assets, destroying vehicles and boats as shown in footage released by U.S. Central Command.
Trump also reiterated a separate warning to Iran, stating that for each ship Iran attacks in the Strait of Hormuz, the United States would target an Iranian power plant or bridge.
The statements come amid heightened regional tensions, with Iran recently striking a tanker near Oman.
The administration emphasized that any further aggression will trigger a decisive response to protect commercial navigation and regional stability.
