Trump Warns of Intensified Strikes on Houthis, Iran: ‘The Real Pain Is Yet to Come’

AFP | WASHINGTON
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President Donald Trump warned on Monday that US strikes against Yemen’s Houthi rebels will persist until they no longer threaten global shipping, issuing a stark message that “real pain” awaits both the militia and its Iranian backers.

“The choice for the Houthis is clear: Stop shooting at US ships, and we will stop shooting at you. Otherwise, we have only just begun, and the real pain is yet to come, for both the Houthis and their sponsors in Iran,” Trump declared on his Truth Social platform.

His warning came as Houthi media reported that two US airstrikes had targeted Kamaran Island, off Yemen’s Hodeida coast. The Houthis have faced near-daily US-led attacks since March 15, when Washington launched a military campaign to curb their assaults on maritime routes. According to US officials, initial strikes killed senior Houthi leaders, while the group’s health ministry reported 53 casualties on the first day alone.

Trump claimed that the Houthis have been “decimated” by relentless bombings, adding that US forces continue to hit them “harder and harder” day and night. The group, however, remains defiant, vowing to continue attacks on US military vessels and Israel.

Growing Tensions with Iran

Trump’s remarks also signaled a hardening stance toward Tehran, with the president warning that “there will be bombing” unless Iran agrees to a deal on its nuclear program. The Houthis, backed by Iran, began targeting commercial shipping after the outbreak of the Gaza war, citing solidarity with Palestinians. Their strikes have severely disrupted traffic through the Suez Canal, a crucial waterway that facilitates around 12 percent of global trade, forcing vessels to take costly detours around Africa.

“Our attacks will continue until they are no longer a threat to Freedom of Navigation,” Trump stated.

White House Faces Fallout Over Leaked Security Chat

Meanwhile, Trump’s administration is grappling with a scandal involving the accidental disclosure of sensitive military discussions. The Atlantic magazine revealed that a US journalist was mistakenly included in a Signal group chat where top security officials— including National Security Adviser Mike Waltz and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth— discussed intelligence and strike plans in real-time.

Despite calls for dismissals, Trump has defended his officials, denouncing the controversy as a “witch hunt.” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt reinforced the administration’s stance on Monday, declaring, “This case has been closed here at the White House as far as we are concerned.”