Secretary of State Antony Blinken has admitted that Iran was behind the "biggest attack" by Yemen-based Houthi rebels targeting U.S. interests in the Red Sea, and warned "there will be consequences" if such attacks continue.
"We had the biggest attack just yesterday, aided and abetted by Iran," Blinken told reporters at Bahrain International Airport in Manama on Wednesday, reports PBS NewsHour foreign affairs and defense correspondent Nick Schifrin on X.
"We've been clear with more than 20 countries that if these continue, as they did yesterday, there will be consequences," Blinken added. "The support [Iran is] providing to the Houthis needs to stop. It's not in their interest for the conflict to expand."
Blinken said the attacks, using unmanned aerial vehicles, were aided by Iran with "technology, equipment, intelligence, information, and they are having a real-life impact on people," reports VOA.
Blinken's comments came after his talks with Bahrain King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, but he did not elaborate on what consequences would happen if the attacks continued.
The U.N. Security Council on Wednesday adopted a resolution, drafted by the United States, that demands that the Houthi attacks end.
The Houthis insist that the attacks are targeting ships that are either affiliated with or heading to Israel, and the attacks are being carried out in solidarity with the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip in their war efforts.
During Tuesday's attack, the U.S. Navy shot down 21 Houthi missiles and drones, in what the military called a "complex attack," according to U.S. Central Command, reports CNN.
The attack included 18 one-way attack drones, two anti-ship cruise missiles, and one anti-ship ballistic missile and was aimed at international shipping lanes where "dozens" of vessels were traveling, Central Command said in its statement.
As of Tuesday, the Houthis have launched 26 attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea, but Vice Adm. Brad Cooper, the commander of Central Command, said last week that most of the latest attacks have no connection with Israel.
The attacks have been taking place almost every day since Dec. 9 on ships with direct connections with 55 nations, including through the nationality of the crews, the ships' origin and destination, or the owners of the vessels.
Sandy Fitzgerald ✉
Sandy Fitzgerald has more than three decades in journalism and serves as a general assignment writer for Newsmax covering news, media, and politics.
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