Donald Trump says Iran will be held responsible for Houthi attacks

Former U.S. President Donald Trump stated that if the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen launch any attacks in the future, the United States will hold Iran directly responsible, claiming that Tehran will "pay a price." This statement highlights the high level of concern in the United States regarding the situation in the region and suggests potentially strong response measures.

In response to the threat posed by the Houthis to international shipping, the United States launched a new round of airstrikes last Saturday, resulting in at least 53 deaths. The Pentagon stated that it has struck more than 30 targets to date and will use overwhelming lethal force against the Houthis until the group stops attacking. Pentagon chief spokesman Sean Parnell emphasized that the goal is not regime change.

Trump described the Houthis as "evil thugs and villains" on his Truth Social website and stated that any attacks by the group would be met with a response of "great force," "and there are no guarantees that such force will stop there." He accused Iran of "playing the innocent victim," claiming that Iran has not lost control of the Houthis but is "directing their every move, supplying them with weapons, money, and highly sophisticated military equipment, even so-called 'intelligence'."

According to Reuters, Iran has sent a letter to the UN Security Council stating that Trump and other U.S. officials have made "reckless and provocative remarks," raised "baseless accusations," and threatened the use of force against Tehran. Iran's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Amir Saeid Iravani, said in the letter: "Iran strongly and unequivocally rejects any allegations of violating Security Council resolutions related to the arms embargo on Yemen or involvement in any activities that undermine regional stability." The White House said that Trump's message to Iran is to take the United States seriously.

Houthi supporters held rallies in several cities after the airstrikes, vowing to retaliate against the United States and Israel for blockading aid to the Gaza Strip. The Houthi-run al-Masirah satellite news channel broadcast live footage of young boys chanting the group's slogan: "God is the greatest; death to America; death to Israel; a curse upon the Jews; victory to Islam." Houthi leader Mohammed Ali al-Houthi said at a demonstration in Sanaa, the rebel-held capital of Yemen: "Yemen's position on (the Gaza issue) is irreversible, so you (Americans) can do whatever you want, because we are people who only fear God."

Since November 2023, until the start of the ceasefire in Gaza this year, the Houthis have used missiles and drones to attack more than 100 commercial ships, sinking two ships and killing four sailors. The operation has also greatly raised the profile of the Houthis in the wider Arab world and suppressed public criticism of their human rights abuses, suppression of dissent, and targeting of aid workers. The Houthis claimed that additional U.S. airstrikes occurred overnight, but U.S. officials have not immediately acknowledged them.