Importance Score: 65 / 100 🔴
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued a stern warning to Iran on Wednesday evening, stating that the nation would face repercussions for its fatal aid to the Houthi militant group.
U.S. Military Threatens Retaliation
The secretary communicated this message via a post on the platform X, stating, “We observe your fatal assistance to the Houthis. We are fully aware of your actions.” He continued, “You are well aware of the U.S. Military’s capabilities—and you have been cautioned. You will endure repercussions at the time and location of our choosing.”
Recent Incident Involving USS Harry S. Truman
This announcement follows a recent episode where a Houthi drone compelled the USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier to execute an evasive maneuver, which some experts suggest resulted in an F/A-18 Super Hornet—valued at $67 million—falling off the vessel into the Red Sea.
The incident occurred after 47 successive days of U.S. airstrikes targeting Houthi strongholds.
The Secretary’s Retweet
Later in the week, Mr. Hegseth shared a post from the former U.S. President, which had originated on the Truth Social platform. The post declared, “Let nobody be deceived! The numerous attacks perpetrated by the Houthis, including certain criminal elements based in Yemen—who are detested by Yemeni citizens—all originate from and are orchestrated by Iran.”
“Any further aggression or retaliation by the ‘Houthis’ will be met with powerful force, and there is no assurance that the response will cease there.”
The former president further elaborated, “Iran has portrayed itself as the ‘innocent victim’ of rogue terrorists over whom they have lost control, but that is not the case. They are commanding every move, supplying weapons, providing funds, offering highly advanced military equipment, and even so-called ‘intelligence.’ Henceforth, each strike by the Houthis will be regarded as a shot fired from Iran’s weapons and under Iran’s direction. Iran will be held accountable and will suffer the outcomes, which will be severe!”
The Role of Iran in Houthi Attacks
Iran’s Involvement: Key Points
Supporting the Houthi Rebel —Ever since the conflict began in Yemen, Iran has been a constant supporter of the Houthi rebels. This support has encompassed:
- Giving advanced weaponry and military equipment
- Providing intelligence to carry out operations
- Applying financial and logistic aid
- Overseeing strategic operations
Despite Iran’s denials, the Houthis’ military actions bear the clear imprint of Iran’s influence.
Next Steps from the U.S. Defense Department
The defense department has been engaged in a series of airstrikes against Houthi locations. Additional coordinated military maneuvers are in preparation with allies in the area. Meanwhile, diplomatic efforts are ongoing to deter and halt Iran’s involvement in the region.