- Houthis launched missile and drone strikes on oil tankers in the Red Sea.
- Trump vowed major military punishment for Yemen's Houthi rebels after the attacks.
- The Houthis claimed they hit two Saudi oil tankers violating their Bab el-Mandeb blockade.
- Trump stated that the US would hold Iran responsible, as the Houthis are a proxy of Iran.
- Earlier this week, the Houthis announced they had closed the Bab el-Mandeb Strait to Saudi-linked shipping.
- Saudi's state-run news agency reported a fire on a tanker in the Red Sea following the attack.
- At least nine tankers have changed course after the Houthi blockade announcement.
- EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas demanded that the Houthis cease attacks on ships in the Red Sea.
US President Donald Trump has issued a stark warning to Yemen's Houthi rebels, threatening them with "major military punishment" after they launched missile and drone strikes on Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea. The Houthis claimed responsibility for targeting two vessels, the Encelia and the Layla, which they alleged were violating their blockade in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.5
Trump's warning extends to Iran, which he described as a "surrogate and/or proxy" of the Houthis. He stated that the US would hold Iran accountable for the actions of the Houthis, emphasizing that any further attacks would lead to significant repercussions for both parties. "Major military punishment will be inflicted upon Iran and, of course, the Houthis themselves", Trump declared on his Truth Social network.
The Houthis had previously announced the closure of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait to Saudi-linked shipping, a critical passage for global trade, through which approximately 12% of the world's trade and a quarter of global container traffic typically flows. Trump's administration has indicated a readiness to respond decisively to any threats to shipping and energy exports in the region.
In response to the escalating tensions, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas condemned the Houthi attacks, calling them "unacceptable" and illegal, while Iran's Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi warned of a potential "eye for an eye" policy should Iran face aggression.
As a result of the Houthi blockade announcement, at least nine tankers have altered their routes, reflecting the growing impact of the conflict on maritime operations in the region.9
“The Houthis claimed they struck two Saudi oil tankers — the Encelia and the Layla — violating their blockade of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas called the attack unacceptable and demanded the Houthis cease Red Sea strikes.”
Euronews.com
