Trump: Iran Must Be Held Accountable for Houthi Attacks
President Donald Trump declared that Iran will be held responsible for any future attacks by the Houthi forces in Yemen.
"From this moment forward, every shot fired by the Houthis will be considered a shot fired with Iran’s weapons and leadership. Iran will be held accountable and will face consequences," Trump posted on Truth Social on March 17.
The White House warned that any retaliatory attacks by the Houthis against the U.S. would be met with "overwhelming force." Trump also criticized Iran for "playing the victim" in the ongoing conflict.
The Pentagon confirmed that U.S. airstrikes against the Houthis are ongoing, aimed at degrading their ability to plan and execute attacks. "Iran has been informed of these operations," a Defense Department official stated.
When asked if Trump was considering direct military action against Iran, Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell responded, "All options are on the table at this time." He reiterated that the U.S. would apply "overwhelming force" until its objectives were met. "This operation will not stop until the Houthis commit to ending their attacks on ships and no longer pose a threat to American lives," he said.
On March 15, the U.S. launched its first airstrikes against Houthi targets under Trump’s administration, killing 53 fighters and injuring 98 others. In response, the Houthis launched two separate attacks on a U.S. aircraft carrier within 24 hours, but Washington claimed all incoming weapons were intercepted.
Since November 2023, the Houthis have carried out more than 100 attacks on ships they believe are linked to Israel in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, citing solidarity with Palestinians in the Israel-Hamas conflict. Hamas, a key ally of the Houthis, is part of Iran’s "Axis of Resistance" in the Middle East.
While the Houthis initially paused their Red Sea operations after a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas in late January, they resumed attacks on Israeli-linked vessels on March 11.
Following the U.S. airstrikes, the Houthis vowed to retaliate by targeting American military and commercial vessels.
(Source: AFP)
