Washington.- The President of the United States, Donald Trump, warned this Tuesday that his country will take action if the Houthi rebels in Yemen, allies of Iran, carry out their threat to impose a maritime blockade in the Red Sea.
“So far it hasn’t happened. It could happen, but we will take care of the matter,” the president declared to the press during a meeting at the White House with his Lebanese counterpart, Joseph Aoun.
Trump’s statements come after Houthi military spokesman, Yahya Sarea, announced an immediate blockade against ships linked to Saudi Arabia in the Red Sea.
A blockade in that area would open a new front in the United States’ war against Iran, which has led to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for global oil trade.
Trump recalled that the United States has already bombed Houthi targets in the past and noted that there has been “no word from them” since then.
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“It was about 45 days of very forceful actions that we carried out against the Houthis, and we haven’t had any problems with them,” the Republican declared.
Increased tension between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia, an ally of Washington, condemned the Houthi rebels’ announcement this Monday, vowing to take “all necessary measures” to protect its vessels.
This escalation represents the most serious direct confrontation between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis since both sides began a UN-backed rapprochement process in 2022, which drastically reduced cross-border attacks, although a comprehensive peace agreement has never been reached.
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Tensions have risen in recent weeks after the Houthis accused the Persian Gulf country of tightening restrictions in areas under their control and blamed Riyadh for the airstrikes that damaged the runways of Sanaa airport last week to prevent an Iranian plane from landing.
Trump says he is willing to engage in dialogue with Hezbollah
On the other hand, Trump said he was willing to engage in dialogue with the Shiite group Hezbollah, an ally of Iran, if the Lebanese president were to ask him.
“If the president says he wants me to talk to Hezbollah, I will do it,” the leader declared to the press during his meeting with Aoun.
