Trump Threatens 'Massive Attack' Against Iran After Houthi Ship Attacks

President Donald Trump has threatened to escalate airstrikes against Iran after the Yemen-based Houthis claimed assaults on two Saudi Arabian oil tankers. The attacks, which targeted the Encelia and Layla vessels in the Red Sea, have intensified the conflict and disrupted global energy supplies.

The U.S.-Iran conflict has flared up again in the past couple of weeks, with neither side indicating it's time for new negotiations. Trump told Axios that he's considering a 'massive attack' that would be 'bigger than ever before', adding that American forces will destroy one bridge or power plant each time Tehran shoots at vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.

The Houthis, who are part of Iran's Axis of Resistance, have been involved in attacks on Saudi ships since 2023. However, they ended their campaign in May 2025 after a truce was agreed with the U.S., which had bombed them along with the U.K. and Israel.

The new Houthi strikes come days after the group said it would blockade Saudi ports in response to the kingdom attacking Sanaa. The U.S. has resumed its naval blockade of Iran and ended a waiver on Iranian oil sanctions, further escalating tensions.