U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Thursday that the United States will hold Iran accountable for any future attacks carried out by Yemen’s Houthi movement. This statement follows the Houthis' claim of responsibility for striking two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea, an act they allege was in response to violations of their maritime blockade.

The attacks, if confirmed, would represent the first military action by the Iran-backed Houthis since they declared a naval blockade against Saudi Arabia. In a post on Truth Social, Trump emphasized that the U.S. had previously taken strong action against the Houthis for disrupting global trade by targeting ships. He expressed disappointment in the Houthis for resuming hostilities after a period of relative restraint.

Trump stated, "If they do this again, the U.S. will hold Iran responsible, in that the Houthis are a surrogate and/or proxy of Iran, and major military punishment will be inflicted upon Iran and, of course, the Houthis themselves." He noted that the Houthis had acted responsibly until now, but their recent actions have prompted a shift in U.S. policy.

According to reports, the Houthis targeted two vessels named Encelia and Layla, claiming they were in violation of the blockade. The Saudi Press Agency confirmed that the Encelia was struck, resulting in a fire onboard, but reported that all crew members were safe. The status of the Layla tanker remains unclear.

In response to the escalating situation, U.S. Central Command has conducted a series of strikes against Iranian military targets, focusing on maritime capabilities and missile storage facilities. They assert that these actions aim to degrade Iran's ability to threaten civilian maritime activities in the region.

As tensions rise, the U.S. continues to monitor the situation closely, with military operations aimed at preventing further attacks and ensuring the safety of commercial vessels in the area.