Donald Trump has issued Iran a "dire" warning after US strikes against the Houthis in Yemen killed 52 people and injured at least 101 more following the rebel group's Red Sea attacks.
Described as "decisive and powerful" by the President, the wave of strikes on Houthi rebels was attributed to the Iranian-backed group's attacks on ships in the Red Sea.
Taking to his Truth Social Platform to speak out, the Republican declared that Iran will "suffer the dire consequences" as a result of the Houthi attacks.
He said: "Let nobody be fooled! The hundreds of attacks being made by Houthi, the sinister mobsters and thugs based in Yemen, who are hated by the Yemeni people, all emanate from, and are created by, IRAN.
Donald Trump spoke with reporters after landing in Washington DC
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Adding that any future attack or retaliation by the rebel group would be met with "great force", the 47th President added: "There is no guarantee that that force will stop there."
"They’re dictating every move, giving them the weapons, supplying them with money and highly sophisticated Military equipment, and even, so-called, 'Intelligence'.
"Every shot fired by the Houthis will be looked upon, from this point forward, as being a shot fired from the weapons and leadership of IRAN, and IRAN will be held responsible, and suffer the consequences, and those consequences will be dire!"
After the first strikes, the Houthis declared that attacks on Red Sea shipping vessels would persist as long as Israel continued to blockade Gaza.
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The rebel group later said that a series of explosions took place on Saturday night in the capital city of Yemen - Sanaa - as well as the northern province of Saada.
The rebel group - supported by Iran - controls both regions, although it is not formally recognised as the nation's official government on the world stage.
Unofficial footage revealed black smoke billowing over the region covering Sanaa's airport - an area which also includes a military facility.
After the attacks, the Houthis criticised the US and the UK for conducting "wicked" attacks which targeted residential areas.
The strikes also hit 'a residential neighbourhood', the Houthi media office reported
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While Britain did not actively participate in the US strikes, the UK did provide refuelling support for American action.
The Houthis also argued that they were standing in support for Palestine in the war in Gaza and have insisted that they are merely targeted Israeli, American or British vessels.
However, since 2023, the rebel group has taken aim at ships across the Red Sea, as well as the Gulf of Aden, sinking two vessels, seized another and killed four crew members.
Trump has since said such attacks "will not be tolerated" and promised to use "overwhelming lethal force until we have reached our objective".
