You Will Pay the Price: Strong U.S. Warning to Iran Over Houthi Support

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U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth issued a stern warning to Iran over recent attacks carried out by Iran-backed Houthi militias against American forces in the Arabian Sea and the Red Sea.

He confirmed that Washington is closely monitoring the “lethal support” Iran provides to these groups and emphasized that such escalation will not go unanswered.

In a post on X Wednesday evening, Hegseth directly addressed Iran:

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“We are tracking your deadly support to the Houthis, and we know exactly what you’re doing.”

He added: “You are well aware of what the U.S. armed forces are capable of — and you’ve been warned before.”

He concluded: “You will pay the price, at a time and place of our choosing.”

The American statements came just hours after the Houthis claimed responsibility for a drone attack targeting the U.S. aircraft carrier USS Vinson and its accompanying vessels in the Arabian Sea.

The group described the operation as a “response to ongoing American aggression against Yemen,” according to their claims.

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The attack coincided with a similar operation the Houthis announced in the Red Sea, claiming to have thwarted a U.S. airstrike targeting sites in Yemen.

The Houthi military spokesperson vowed to continue targeting “hostile targets” as long as U.S. operations in the region persist, declaring that “the battle will not stop.”

Washington has viewed this escalation as a direct reflection of Iran’s destabilizing role in the region.

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A Message of Deterrence

The U.S. Defense Secretary’s statements reflect a clear shift in Washington’s tone toward Tehran and open the door to a potential escalation that may not be limited to Iran’s proxies in Yemen, but could involve direct strikes if American interests continue to be threatened.

Observers believe the U.S. message leaves little room for misinterpretation, and a military response may be imminent, particularly since the Pentagon recently stated that “U.S. rules of engagement in the Red and Arabian Seas have become more flexible,” meaning any threat detected against U.S. forces may trigger an immediate response.

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