On Tuesday, July 22, 2026, President Donald Trump stated that the United States would "take care of things" if Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis carry out threats to impose a naval blockade against Saudi Arabia. This warning came shortly after the Houthis announced the blockade on Monday, following Saudi forces' strikes on Sanaa International Airport.

Iran reportedly instructed the Houthis to prepare to close the Bab el-Mandeb Strait if the U.S. attacks Iranian power infrastructure. The Bab el-Mandeb Strait, along with the Strait of Hormuz, is critical to global shipping, carrying about one-third of global seaborne oil trade and serving as a vital route for energy shipments between the Middle East, Europe, and Asia.

Saudi Arabia has reinstated its military strikes against the Houthis, with President Trump’s administration backing Riyadh's renewed campaign. Saudi forces targeted Sanaa International Airport after an Iranian Mahan Air flight carrying Houthi officials from Iran was forced to divert.

Bridget Toomey, a research analyst at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, explained that the escalation is driven by Saudi concerns over a new status quo being established by Iran and the Houthis through a direct air link between Tehran and Houthi-controlled Sanaa. She noted that such flights would facilitate Iran's movement of weapons, drones, and Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps advisers into Yemen, threatening Saudi Arabia and broader U.S. and international security interests.

Gregg Roman, executive director of the Middle East Forum, commented that President Trump's support for the Saudi operation and his warning to the Houthis demonstrate an administration ready to back regional allies while confronting Iranian-backed groups threatening maritime commerce.

President Trump also announced "major combat operations" in Iran, marking a significant escalation in tensions between Washington and Tehran.

Notable Quotes

  • "So far, it hasn't happened, might happen, but we take care of things," Trump said in the Oval Office.
  • "If something like that happens, we take care of it."
  • "A direct air connection between Tehran and Sanaa would be a serious threat, not just to the international community, but also to Saudi Arabia," said a Saudi-related source.
  • "They're crucial to Iran's broader ability to expand the conflict," referring to the strategic maritime choke points.
  • "Iraqi militias or Hezbollah don't sit on a maritime choke point," highlighting the unique threat posed by the Houthis.

Sources