- Antony Blinken was in Bahrain on Wednesday as he continues his Middle East tour to try to resolve the region's crisis sparked on October 7
- Blinken was asked about the months-long attack on shipping in the Red Sea by Iran-backed Houthi rebels and warned of “consequences.”
- On Tuesday, the US Navy shot down 21 Houthi missiles and drones launched from Yemen
Antony Blinken warned on Wednesday of “consequences” if Yemen's Houthis do not stop attacking ships in the Red Sea and called on Iran to end its support for the rebels.
The foreign minister was in Bahrain on Wednesday as part of his week-long trip to resolve the Middle East crisis. He has visited Israel and Saudi Arabia and will arrive in Egypt on Thursday.
Blinken was asked about the ongoing disruptions to global shipping caused by Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen, who have fired missiles at merchant ships.
On Tuesday, the US Navy shot down 21 Houthi missiles and drones
“I’m not going to telegraph anything or predict what might happen,” Blinken told reporters as he left Bahrain.
“We have made it clear, we have made it clear to more than 20 other countries that there will be consequences if things continue like they did yesterday.”
Secretary of State Antony Blinken is seen aboard his plane on Wednesday during his week-long trip to the Middle East
On Wednesday, a ship is seen transiting the Suez Canal – a dangerous journey thanks to Houthi bombardment
The Yemen-based Houthis have fired rockets, drones and missiles north toward Israel, disrupting shipping in the Red Sea
He added: “Like other countries, we have repeatedly tried to make it clear to Iran that the support they provide to the Houthis, including for these actions, must stop.”
The rebels say their attacks are aimed at stopping Israel's war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip. But their targets are becoming increasingly random, increasing the risk of a US retaliatory strike against Yemen.
The attacks are disrupting maritime trade through the Suez Canal – a key route connecting Europe with Asia and the Middle East – and causing delays and price increases for consumers.
The United States has set up a multinational naval task force to protect shipping from the attacks, which Blinken said on Wednesday were “aided and abetted” by Iran.
On the same day, the UN Security Council adopted a resolution demanding “that the Houthis immediately cease all such attacks that impede global trade and undermine navigation rights and freedoms, as well as peace and security in the region.”
A senior US official told CNN that they continue to speak with all parties to persuade them to end the attack, stressing that their actions do not help the Palestinian people or Yemenis.
British Defense Secretary Grant Shapps called on Iran-backed Houthi rebels to stop their attacks on merchant shipping in the Red Sea
Personnel aboard HMS Diamond shoot down drones fired by Iran-backed Houthi rebels
Personnel aboard HMS Diamond shoot down drones fired by Iran-backed Houthi rebels
HMS Diamond, a £1 billion Type 45 destroyer known as the jewel of the Royal Navy, blasted the targets with a barrage of Sea Viper missiles traveling three times the speed of sound
Personnel aboard HMS Diamond shoot down drones fired by Iran-backed Houthi rebels
Blinken said Wednesday that, given efforts to prevent the spread of a regional conflict, “it is particularly important that we respond when we see something like aggression by the Houthis.”
Grant Shapps, Britain's defense secretary, also warned of consequences for the Houthis, telling Sky News on Wednesday there was “no doubt” that Tehran was involved and was providing weapons and intelligence.
“Enough is enough,” he said. “We need to make it clear to the Houthis that this has to stop, and that is my simple message to them today: Watch this room.”
He also told reporters: “My understanding is that both the ship itself may have been targeted … and that there is a general attack on all shipping (in the region).”