Trump Blames Iran for Houthi Attacks, Threatens Severe Response

President Donald Trump took to Truth Social this morning, accusing Iran of orchestrating all Houthi attacks from Yemen and warning of a forceful retaliation. Calling the Houthis “sinister mobsters and thugs,” he claimed their hundreds of strikes “all emanate from, and are created by, IRAN.”

Trump alleged Iran provides the Houthis with weapons, funding, advanced military equipment, and intelligence, rejecting Tehran’s portrayal as an “innocent victim” of rogue terrorists. “They’re dictating every move,” he wrote, insisting Iran retains full control. He vowed that “any further attack or retaliation by the ‘Houthis’ will be met with great force,” with “no guarantee that that force will stop there.” From now on, he added, “every shot fired by the Houthis” will be treated as coming from Iran’s leadership, promising “dire” consequences.

The statement follows U.S. airstrikes on Houthi targets in Yemen, launched March 15, 2025, after attacks on Red Sea shipping disrupted global trade. These strikes, killing dozens, reflect a U.S. shift toward linking the Houthis—backed by Iran since at least 2015—to Tehran’s influence. Senators Marco Rubio and Pete Hegseth have echoed this, tying Houthi capabilities to Iranian support.

The Houthis, a Shiite rebel group, rely on Iranian drones and missiles for their Red Sea campaign, framed as support for Palestinians amid Israel’s Gaza conflict. Western intelligence confirms Tehran’s role, though some analysts see the Houthis as semi-autonomous, not fully controlled—a nuance Trump dismisses. Iran denies direct involvement, with Revolutionary Guard chief Hossein Salami claiming independence for the rebels on March 16, 2025. Yet evidence of arms shipments and advisors contradicts this.

Trump also called the Houthis “hated by the Yemeni people.” While they face opposition in rival areas, their grip on Sanaa suggests mixed support, complicating his claim. His post, widely shared on X and archived on trumpstruth.org, aligns with recent U.S. actions and his past hardline stance on Iran, like the 2020 Soleimani strike.

The threat of “great force” extending beyond Yemen hints at potential escalation, though specifics remain vague. As the Biden administration manages the crisis, Trump’s rhetoric pressures an already tense situation, with U.S. forces active and Iran’s proxies stirring unrest region-wide.