Trump threatens Houthis with 'major military punishment' after strikes on Saudi tankers in Red Sea

US President Donald Trump has threatened 'major military punishment' against Iran and Houthi rebels following attacks on Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea. The administration is weighing a significant military response to protect global shipping routes.
Why it matters
The escalation threatens to disrupt global energy supplies and could lead to a major military conflict in the Middle East.
US President Donald Trump announced on Thursday that he is close to deciding whether to launch an unprecedented strike on Iran, in further escalation of hostile rhetoric between the two sides since the collapse of the interim deal meant to pave the way to a final peace agreement earlier this month."I am considering a massive attack," Trump told Axios in an interview. "Bigger than ever before. I am close to making a decision. We are all set for it," the US president added.In parallel with the US president's comments, the US State Department advised citizens in the Middle East to prepare for possible flight cancellations and other air travel disruptions linked to the Iran war.Earlier in the day, Trump threatened the Houthis with "major military punishment" after the Tehran-backed militant group in Yemen claimed on Thursday they struck two Saudi oil tankers transiting through the Red Sea."The US will hold…
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in