The Houthis Are Attacking Saudi Ships In The Red Sea. Iran Reportedly Sent Military Advisers And Equipment To Help

Iran reportedly flew military commanders and equipment to Yemen to help the Houthis enforce their blockade of Saudi oil going through the Red Sea, according to a new report.

Citing sources familiar with the matter, Reuters detailed that the flight took place on July 13 and involved at least 10 members of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, including senior commanders.

"The IRGC commanders travelled there to support Houthi operations and provide training on new missile systems," one source told the outlet, adding that the flight also included gold to fund the activities.

The Houthis soon after announced that tankers carrying Saudi oil would be banned from crossing the Red, and on Thursday struck two vessels.

They are the first such strikes in the key waterway, which the group is now seeking to control as the war in Iran continues to escalate. Oil jumped following the news, with Brent crude, the international benchmark, climbing above $100 a barrel.

CNBC noted that Saudi Arabia has been diverting millions of barrels of oil per day from the Strait of Hormuz to the Red Sea as a result of the war. The Houthis preventing Riyadh from doing so further exacerbates the disruption taking place in oil markets.

President Donald Trump threatened to strike Iran should the Houthis continue such actions. "A year ago the United States of America attacked, very powerfully, the Houthis, for their interference with commerce and trade, by shooting at ships. Since that time, and during our conflict with Iran, they have acted very responsibly. Unfortunately, now they are starting up again, shooting at two Saudi Arabian ships last night," Trump said in a social media publication.

"Please let this TRUTH serve to represent that if they do this again, the U.S. will hold Iran responsible, in that the Houthis are a Surrogate and/or Proxy of Iran, and major military punishment will be inflicted upon Iran and, of course, the Houthis, themselves, who I am very disappointed with in that they have, until now, acted very professionally and smart," he added.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio also threatened Tehran, saying that the price the country will pay "will get higher every night" until authorities are ready to make a meaningful peace agreement.

"Iran is begging (for a deal) every day. The problem with Iran is every time they make a deal ... they either break it or they want to change it," Rubio said. "So now they're paying the price for it. And maybe they'll ​change their mind here over the next few days as they continue to suffer great losses."