The President of the United States, Donald Trump, promised to impose a “great military punishment” on Iran and the Houthi rebels of Yemen, after the group claimed an attack against two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea, in a new escalation of the conflict in the Middle East.
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According to the Houthis, the vessels were attacked as part of an offensive to block Saudi oil exports. The action extends the crisis from the Strait of Hormuz to the Red Sea, putting pressure on two of the most important maritime routes for global crude oil transport.
Trump assured that Iran will be held responsible for any new attack perpetrated by the Houthis and warned that Washington would respond with force if the aggressions continued. However, the president left open the possibility of a diplomatic solution to the conflict.
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According to sources cited by Reuters, Tehran would have sent military equipment, including missiles, to the Houthis to strengthen their capabilities. Iran, however, denies directing the group’s operations and maintains that it acts independently.
In parallel, Saudi-backed forces launched bombings against Houthi positions in Yemen, while the rebel movement announced an “economic war” and threatened to maintain its attacks against Saudi oil facilities.
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