Trump threatens Houthis with 'major military punishment'
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- Trump warned on Truth Social that the US will hold Iran responsible for Houthi attacks on Red Sea shipping, threatening both Iran and the Houthis with "major military punishment" if further strikes occur.
- Houthis struck a Saudi ship in the Red Sea on Wednesday (Jul 23) with missile and drone attacks, after hitting two Saudi oil tankers earlier in the week and declaring a blockade of Saudi ports.
- The Red Sea attacks sent oil prices surging and opened a new front in the Middle East war the US and Israel launched in February, according to Trump.
- Trump said he was "very disappointed" with the Houthis, noting they had previously "acted very professionally and smart" following US attacks on the group last year and during the February Iran war.
Why it matters: By naming Iran — not just the Houthis — as a direct target, Trump broadens the threat beyond a Yemen-based militia to a US-Iran confrontation. The Houthi blockade of Saudi ports has already pushed oil prices higher, layering a new Red Sea flashpoint onto the ongoing Middle East war.
