Hegseth Issues Stark Warning to Iran Over Houthi Support: ‘You Will Pay’
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued a strong warning to Iran regarding its support for Houthi militants, emphasizing consequences for their actions. His comments follow an incident involving the USS Harry S. Truman and point towards escalating U.S. military response. Former President Trump echoed this sentiment, asserting Iran’s manipulative role in the conflict.
In a stern address on Wednesday evening, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth directed a clear warning at Iran, emphasizing the potential repercussions of its support for the Houthi militant group. Hegseth stated, “We see your LETHAL support to the Houthis. We know exactly what you are doing. You know very well what the U.S. Military is capable of — and you were warned. You will pay the CONSEQUENCES at the time and place of our choosing.” This message underscores rising tensions amid ongoing conflicts in the region.
This strong statement followed a recent incident involving the USS Harry S. Truman, where a Houthi drone attack forced the aircraft carrier to evade, reportedly leading to a $67 million F-18 fighter jet falling into the Red Sea. This unsettling event occurred amidst 47 consecutive days of U.S. airstrikes targeting Houthi positions, indicating a tightening military engagement against the group.
In the aftermath of Hegseth’s comments, he retweeted a post from President Donald Trump dated March 17. In that post, Trump denounced the Houthi attacks as originating from Iran, labeling the militants as “sinister mobsters and thugs based in Yemen, who are hated by the Yemeni people.” Trump forcefully asserted that any further aggression from the Houthis would meet significant retaliation, hinting at a potential escalation in military action.
Trump went on to criticize Iran’s portrayal as a “victim of rogue terrorists,” arguing that the country has not, in fact, lost control of the Houthis. He accused Iran of being the source of weapons and funding for the militants, stating, “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!” This rhetoric suggests an intensification of accountability for Iran regarding the ongoing conflict.
The situation surrounding the U.S. military’s involvement in the conflict in Yemen is escalating. Both Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and former President Donald Trump have made pointed remarks towards Iran, linking its support of the Houthis to broader regional instability and underscoring the potential for severe consequences. The incident involving the USS Harry S. Truman highlights the immediate risks posed by Houthi actions and the strategic decisions of the U.S. military in responding to these provocations.
Original Source: www.foxnews.com
