Pete Hegseth Delivers Blunt Warning to Iran Over Houthi Attacks

The days of appeasing Iran are over. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth issued a powerful warning this week to the Iranian regime for its ongoing support of the terrorist Houthi militia, promising they would “pay the consequence” for enabling attacks on American forces and international vessels in the Red Sea.

“We see your LETHAL support to The Houthis,” Hegseth posted on X. “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 CONSEQUENCE at the time and place of our choosing.”

Though Hegseth didn’t specify what triggered the message, it came just days after a $60 million U.S. Navy F/A-18 fighter jet was lost in the Red Sea. The jet reportedly veered sharply to dodge incoming fire from the Houthis, ultimately slipping off the deck of the USS Harry S. Truman. One sailor sustained minor injuries.

Let’s not forget who’s really pulling the strings here:

• Iran has armed, trained, and funded the Houthis for years, turning them into a proxy militia waging war on Western assets in the Middle East.

• Since Hamas’ October 7 attack on Israel, the Houthis have launched over 100 attacks on commercial ships and naval vessels, severely disrupting global trade.

• In response, U.S. forces have conducted more than 800 strikes since March, eliminating hundreds of Houthi fighters and key infrastructure. Attacks are now down 69% for ballistic missiles and 55% for suicide drones, according to Fox News.

President Trump has made it clear: any attack by the Houthis will be considered an attack from Iran itself.

In March, Trump wrote on Truth Social, “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.” He emphasized that Tehran will be held responsible and warned that “those consequences will be dire.”

Trump also dismantled the charade Iran has long played pretending to be detached from Houthi operations while simultaneously flooding them with weapons, funding, and intelligence. “Iran dictates every move,” he wrote, and the world is finally waking up to it.

Under President Trump’s leadership, the United States has returned to a policy of peace through strength. Compare that to the Biden administration, which removed the Houthis from the terror watchlist in 2021, only to watch their attacks spiral out of control. One of Trump’s first moves upon returning to office was restoring that terror designation a move long overdue.

This isn’t just about one jet or one region. It’s about sending a crystal-clear message: if you back terror, you will face American firepower. No more tolerance. No more delay.

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