“Your Time Is Up”: Trump’s Warning to Houthis

US President Donald Trump has issued a direct and forceful warning to the Houthi militants in Yemen, declaring that their attacks on American and allied vessels will no longer be tolerated. In a strongly worded statement, Trump announced that he had ordered the US military to launch decisive airstrikes against the Iran-backed Houthis, whom he accused of disrupting global trade and endangering international security.

Trump criticised President Joe Biden’s handling of the crisis, calling it “pathetically weak,” and asserted that his inaction had allowed the Houthis to intensify their attacks. He claimed that it had been over a year since a US-flagged commercial ship safely navigated the Suez Canal, the Red Sea, or the Gulf of Aden. Additionally, he highlighted that the last American warship to pass through the Red Sea was attacked more than a dozen times by the Houthis.

The president accused Iran of financing and equipping the Houthis, who, he said, had fired missiles at American aircraft and targeted US troops and allies. He blamed the militants for inflicting billions of dollars in economic damage while posing a significant threat to innocent lives. Trump emphasised that the Houthis had effectively “choked off” one of the world’s most crucial maritime routes, halting trade and undermining the principle of freedom of navigation.

Trump vowed that the United States would use “overwhelming lethal force” until its objectives were met. He declared that American warships, aircraft, and commercial vessels would not be deterred by terrorist threats and that the military was actively carrying out strikes against Houthi bases, leaders, and missile defence systems.

“To all Houthi terrorists, your time is up, and your attacks must stop, starting today,” Trump warned. “If they don’t, hell will rain down upon you like nothing you have ever seen before.”

Trump also issued a stern message to Iran, demanding an immediate end to its support for the Houthis. He warned that any threat to American interests, global shipping routes, or his presidency would result in severe consequences. “If you do, beware, because America will hold you fully accountable, and we won’t be nice about it,” he stated.

This declaration follows a pattern of strong rhetoric from Trump on foreign policy matters. In recent months, he has also threatened Hamas over the hostage situation in Gaza, warning that there would be “hell to pay” if the captives were not released. Additionally, Trump has been vocal about imposing harsh retaliatory tariffs, including a potential 200% tax on European wine and spirits, fuelling tensions in global trade.

Houthis, the militant group of Yemen, had warned that they will continue the Red Sea attack, if Israel refuse to reopen crossings to Gaza and continue aid. The group warned shippers that “any Israeli vessel” travelling through the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden is now a target. The statement follows a four-day deadline set by the rebels for Israel to resume aid shipments into Gaza.

“We hope it is understood that the actions taken by the [Houthi military] … stem from a deep sense of religious, humanitarian and moral responsibility toward the oppressed Palestinian people and aim to pressure the Israeli usurper entity to reopen the crossings to the Gaza Strip and allow the entry of aid, including food and medical supplies,” the statement said. The statement described the warning as taking hold in the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, the Bab al-Mandeb Strait and the Arabian Sea.

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The Houthis added that the “ban will remain in effect until the crossings to the Gaza Strip are reopened and humanitarian aid, including food and medical supplies, is allowed to enter”.
Houthis started attacking vessels passing through Red Sea after Israel started genocidal war on Gaza. The Yemeni group pledged to attack any ships having link with Israeli as a solidarity to Hamas and Palestinian civilians who were tortured under relentless Israeli bombing campaign. The rebel group had launched more than 100 attacks targeting shipping from November 2023. Several shipping companies opted for the Cape of Good Hope route of South Africa which is expensive and time consuming. After reaching Hamas-Israel ceasefire, the group halted attacks, but warned of resuming if Israel is to violate the agreement.