Yemen's Iranian-backed Houthi rebels have threatened new attacks on ships in the Red Sea, releasing a video showing a burning vessel with the caption 'Soon'. The threat comes as the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier and accompanying destroyers move towards the region, with US President Donald Trump warning of possible military action against Iran over its crackdown on protests.
The Houthis previously attacked over 100 ships in the Red Sea, claiming to pressure Israel over its war in Gaza. They halted attacks after a ceasefire but have warned they could resume. The latest threat appears aimed at backing Iran, which faces mounting tensions with the US.
Iranian Defence Ministry spokesperson General Reza Talaei-Nik warned that any attack on Iran would be met with a 'more painful and more decisive' response. Iran has unveiled a banner in Tehran threatening the USS Lincoln, showing a bloodied aircraft carrier. However, Iran is still recovering from a 12-day Israeli war in June that destroyed its air defences and killed top military leaders.
Iran has banned small private aircraft from flying, and many Western airlines are avoiding Iranian airspace due to tensions. The protests in Iran, which began on 28 December, have led to a violent crackdown. The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency reports 5,848 deaths and over 41,280 arrests, though the figures cannot be independently verified. Iran's government puts the death toll at 3,117.
