US President Donald Trump has threatened to strike Yemen and Iran if the Iran-backed Houthi rebels continue to attack ships in the Red Sea."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 posted on his Truth Social platform. "If they do this again, the US 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."Trump added that he was "very disappointed" with the Houthis because "they have, until now, acted very professionally and smart."France calls Houthi strikes 'a serious escelation'France has condemned the Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen for their fresh wave of strikes on Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea."Houthi attacks on ​Saudi ‌tankers are irresponsible and a serious escalation," a ‌French ‌Foreign Ministry spokesperson told reporters on Wednesday.With shipping largely halted in the Strait of Hormuz, the Red Sea has served as an alternative export route for Saudi oil. The Houthis announced a maritime blockade in the region earlier this week and claim to have targeted two oil tankers.