DUBAI: US President Donald Trump promised on Thursday “major military punishment” for Iran and its Houthi allies, after the Yemeni fighters struck at least one oil tanker in the Red Sea, extending the Middle East war to a second major shipping chokepoint.The prospect that disruption could widen to a second sea sent global oil prices surging in one of the steepest rises of the war.

President Trump warned Houthi rebels against a naval blockade of Saudi ports. He stated the United States would respond if the group followed through with threats. Previous US…

In another escalation, the US president said American forces would broaden bombing to a nuclear site called Pickaxe Mountain, 220 kilometres south of Tehran.

Donald Trump threatened strikes on Houthis in the Red Sea.

President Trump warned Iran of significant military punishment for Houthi attacks. He described the Yemen-based militia as a proxy of Tehran. This warning followed Houthi claims…