Blinken gives stern warning ‘there will be consequences’ for continued Houthi attacks in Red Sea as Secretary of State is in Middle East to try and stop conflict from growing

Antony Blinken warned on Wednesday of “consequences” if the Houthis in Yemen 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 tour aimed at working on the Middle East crisis. He has visited Israel and Saudi Arabia and will arrive in Egypt on Thursday.

Blinken was asked about the ongoing disruption to global shipping caused by Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen who have fired missiles at commercial ships.

On Tuesday, the US Navy shot down 21 Houthi missiles and drones in one day.

“I’m not going to telegraph or predict that that could happen,” Blinken said, speaking to reporters as he left Bahrain.

“We have made it clear, we have been clear to more than 20 other countries that if it continues like it did yesterday, there will be consequences.”

A ship is seen passing through the Suez Canal on Wednesday – a dangerous journey thanks to Houthi bombing

The Houthis, based in Yemen, have fired missiles, drones and missiles north towards Israel, disrupting shipping in the Red Sea.

He added: “We have also repeatedly tried to make it clear to Iran, as well as other countries, 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 indiscriminate, raising the risk of a US retaliatory attack on Yemen.

The attacks are disrupting maritime trade through the Suez Canal – a crucial route connecting Europe to Asia and the Middle East – causing delays and price increases for consumers.

The United States has created a multinational naval task force to protect shipping from the attacks, which Blinken said on Wednesday were “aided and abetted” by Iran.

That same day, the UN Security Council adopted a resolution demanding “that the Houthis immediately cease all such attacks, which hinder global trade and undermine navigation rights and freedoms, as well as regional peace and security.”

A senior American official said this CNN that they continue to talk to all parties to convince them to end the attack, and emphasize that their actions do not help the Palestinian people or the Yemenis.

British Defense Secretary Grant Shapps warned Iran-backed Houthi rebels to end their attacks on commercial 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 – which travel three times the speed of sound

Personnel aboard HMS Diamond shoot down drones fired by Iran-backed Houthi rebels

Blinken said Wednesday that amid efforts to prevent a regional conflict from spreading, it is “particularly important that we respond when we see something like the aggression coming from the Houthis.”

Grant Shapps, Britain’s Defense Secretary, has also warned of the consequences for the Houthis, telling Sky News on Wednesday that there was “no doubt” Tehran was involved and supplied weapons and intelligence.

“Enough is enough,” he said. “We must be clear to the Houthis that this must stop and that is my simple message to them today: watch this space.”

He also told reporters: “It is my understanding that both the ship itself may have been targeted… but also that there is a general attack on all shipping (in the region).”