US President Donald Trump on Thursday warned Iran and Yemen’s Houthi rebels of “major military punishment” if further attacks are carried out against commercial shipping in the Red Sea, following missile and drone strikes on two Saudi oil tankers.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump recalled US military strikes against the Houthis last year over attacks on international shipping and said the group had acted “very responsibly” during the recent US-Iran conflict.

He said the Houthis had now resumed attacks by targeting two Saudi Arabian ships.

“A year ago the United States of America attacked, very powerfully, the Houthis, for their interference with commerce and trade, by shooting at ships. Since that time, and during our conflict with Iran, they have acted very responsibly. Unfortunately, now they are starting up again, shooting at two Saudi Arabian ships last night.

“Please let this TRUTH serve to represent that if they do this again, the U.S. will hold Iran responsible, in that the Houthis are a Surrogate and/or Proxy of Iran, and major military punishment will be inflicted upon Iran and, of course, the Houthis, themselves, who I am very disappointed with in that they have, until now, acted very professionally and smart.”

The Houthis, who are backed by Iran, earlier this week said they had struck two Saudi oil tankers after announcing a blockade of Saudi ports, widening tensions in an already volatile Middle East conflict.

The attacks pushed oil prices higher and raised fresh concerns over the security of one of the world’s busiest maritime trade routes.

EU slams attacks

Also on Thursday, the European Union strongly condemned the assault on the Saudi vessel, describing it as a threat to regional stability and international shipping.

“The attack on an oil tanker in the Red Sea is unacceptable, illegal and further inflames an already volatile situation in the region,” EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said in a statement.

“The Houthis must cease all actions that endanger international shipping and the lives of seafarers,” she added.

Kallas said the EU’s naval mission in the Red Sea remains committed to protecting freedom of navigation and ensuring the safe passage of commercial vessels through the strategic waterway.