The United States intends to strike Iran in response to attacks by the Houthis from Yemen’s rebel Ansar Allah movement. US President Donald Trump said this on Truth Social.

"Let this post on Truth [Social] serve as notice that if they do it again, the United States will hold Iran responsible, since the Houthis are Iran’s proxies and/or protégés. And Iran, and of course the Houthis themselves, will face serious punishment militarily. I am very disappointed in them, because up to now they have acted very professionally and wisely," the White House chief said. He confirmed that he was issuing this warning in connection with Houthi strikes on two Saudi ships.

On Thursday, the Houthis attacked two of the kingdom’s oil tankers — Encelia and Layla — which had violated their naval blockade of Saudi Arabia. The vessels caught fire as a result of ballistic missile and drone strikes. On July 20, the Houthis announced the imposition of a naval blockade of Saudi Arabia, accusing the kingdom of years-long "plundering of Yemen’s national wealth," by which they meant oil resources. On July 21, the Riyadh-led Arab coalition announced the start of measures to protect commercial shipping.