Pentagon chief warns Iran of severe consequences over support for Houthis
Photo: Pete Hegseth, head of the Pentagon (Getty Images)
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has warned Iran of military consequences for Tehran's support for the Houthis. The US official's statement was harsh, Reuters reports.
"Message to IRAN: We see your LETHAL support to The Houthis. We know exactly what you are doing," Hegseth's post says.
The Pentagon chief added, "You know very well what the U.S. Military is capable of — and you were warned."
In addition, Hegseth promises, the Iranian side will face the consequences of its support for the Yemeni Houthis "at a time and place of our choosing."
Such a harsh statement by the Pentagon chief came against the backdrop of the resumption of negotiations between the countries on the Iranian nuclear program.
In particular, the parties have already held three rounds of indirect negotiations mediated by the Persian Gulf country of Oman, aimed at concluding an agreement that would block Tehran from obtaining nuclear weapons and also lift economic sanctions imposed by Washington.
Representatives of Washington and Tehran are expected to meet again in Rome on Saturday.
The head of the US Department of Defense also reposted a post by US President Donald Trump on Truth Social from March, in which the head of state stated that he would hold Iran responsible for any attacks carried out by the Houthis.
Meanwhile, the leader of Iran, reacting to such a statement from Trump, assured that the Yemeni Houthis were acting independently.
Strengthening of US troops in the Middle East amid nuclear talks with Iran and Houthis attacks on ships
The Houthi militant group controls the northern part of Yemen, and they are attacking ships in the Red Sea, explaining their attacks on shipping as a sign of solidarity with the Palestinians against the backdrop of the Israeli military operation in the Gaza Strip against Hamas militants.
The US has already struck more than 1,000 Houthi targets after they stepped up attacks on this group in March.
The US military has increased its troop buildup in the Middle East in recent weeks. Also, the Pentagon has deployed 6 B-2 bombers to the island of Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean.
In addition, the United States currently has two aircraft carriers in the Middle East and has moved air defense systems from Asia to the region.
On April 17, the US military carried out a large-scale strike on Houthi targets in Yemen. On April 18, the military said that US forces had attacked the Houthi-controlled Ras Isa fuel port in Yemen. The operation aimed to cut off a fuel source for Iranian-backed militants.
On April 29, US media reported that a US Navy F-18 fighter jet sank in the Red Sea after the Houthi attacked the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman. One sailor was slightly injured in the incident.
And yesterday, the British government said that on April 29, a joint military operation was carried out by US and British forces in Yemen against Houthi targets.
