 "'Every shot fired...': Trump threatens Iran over ongoing Houthi attacks")
President Donald Trump on Monday said that he will hold Iran directly responsible for any future attacks carried out by Yemen’s Tehran-backed Houthi rebels, who have targeted several US and foreign vessels in the Red Sea.
Taking to Truth Social platform, the US President said, “Let nobody be fooled! The hundreds of attacks being made by Houthi, the sinister mobsters and thugs based in Yemen, who are hated by the Yemeni people, all emanate from, and are created by, IRAN. Any further attack or retaliation by the “Houthis” will be met with great force, and there is no guarantee that that force will stop there.”
He also blamed Iran for dictating every move, giving Houthis the weapons and supplying them with money and highly sophisticated military equipment, and even “intelligence.”
“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.” Trump said.
“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!” added the US president.
While the US has been conducting strikes on Houthi targets for months, Trump’s remarks were notably direct in addressing Iran, which he is also pressuring regarding nuclear negotiations.
His comments followed the first US strikes on Yemen of his new term, which resulted in 53 deaths and 98 injuries on Saturday.
In retaliation, the Houthis claimed to have launched two strikes against a US aircraft carrier and organised large protests in areas of Yemen under their control.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsThe US targeted the Houthis in response to their repeated assaults on Red Sea shipping vessels, which have significantly impacted this crucial trade route.
The Houthis stated that their attacks are in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, where Israel is currently engaged in conflict with US backing.
Before this weekend’s targeting of the US carrier group, the Houthis had not claimed attacks in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden since January 19, when a ceasefire in Gaza began.
Trump, who ran for a second White House term in part based avoiding further involvement in Middle East conflict, has also called for a new nuclear deal with Iran while reinstating his “maximum pressure” policy of sanctions.
With inputs from agencies
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