Trump promises action if Houthis block Red Sea shipping
Photo: US President Donald Trump (Getty Images)
Yemen's Houthis have threatened to block navigation in the Red Sea for Saudi Arabia. However, the United States will not allow that to happen, according to a statement by US President Donald Trump.
Trump vows to keep the Red Sea open
President Donald Trump raised the issue of freedom of navigation in the Red Sea during a meeting with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun.
"We take care of things. If something like that happens, we take care of it. You know, we've done that with the Houthis before. And we haven't heard from them in a while since we did what we did originally," the US president said.
Trump noted that the Houthis have not caused problems for the United States for a long time, including during the conflict with Iran.
"I think that if there is something like that, we'll just have to take care of business," Trump added.
Houthis threaten to block Bab el-Mandeb
On July 20, the Iran-backed Houthi movement announced a maritime blockade of Saudi Arabia, saying it was a response to the years-long blockade of Yemen.
Earlier, Iran reportedly asked the Houthis to be prepared to shut down the oil shipping route through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait if the United States strikes Iranian energy infrastructure.
On July 13, a senior Yemeni official warned that the country's armed forces were ready to close the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a move he said could drive oil prices up to $200 per barrel.
