politics
Trump Says U.S. Will Address Any Houthi Red Sea Blockade
President Donald Trump stated the United States would respond if Yemen’s Houthis impose a blockade on Red Sea shipping. The comment followed the group’s announcement of an embargo targeting Saudi Arabia.
Jul 21, 11:59 AM·1m read4 sources
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President Donald Trump said on July 21 that the United States would address any attempt by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis to blockade shipping in the Red Sea. Speaking in the Oval Office alongside Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, Trump told reporters the U.S. would “take care of it” if the threat materialized.
The Houthis announced the embargo against Saudi Arabia on July 20. The group said it would halt Saudi shipping through the Red Sea in response to what it described as an aggressive siege, including strikes on Sanaa International Airport. Trump noted his administration had previously conducted a 45-day military campaign against the Houthis.
He added that the U.S. had not heard from the group since that operation and had experienced no problems with them for a long period, including during the current conflict. The Bab el-Mandeb Strait links the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden.
Saudi Arabia has shifted more crude oil exports to Red Sea routes after attacks disrupted traffic in the Strait of Hormuz.
