Daniel Wolfram
A militant group with which the US agreed to a ceasefire with last year has created new tensions in the Middle East.
Donald Trump abruptly left the presidential retreat at Camp David on Saturday night.
Right after his sudden departure, the US State Department issued a security alert for all American citizens across the region.
Then the rumors began about new potential strikes in the Middle East.
Trump says big things are happening
Tensions escalated further when a Fox News reporter called Trump to ask why he returned to the White House on Sunday.
Trump warned that “very big things are going to be happening in the not-so-distant future,” while weighing his options. He said those choices included “wiping Iran out, letting them rot economically or making a deal.”
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Iran heard Trump’s comments and responded swiftly. According to The Guardian, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps warned that “all US bases and interests in the region will become targets of continuous, effective and painful attacks without any limitations or considerations.”
The Iranians also accused Gulf leaders of “double-dealing” by secretly greenlighting US military action.
A new foe enters the picture in the Middle East
The rhetoric comes after a new player has entered the war picture. There have been major attacks in Riyadh by the Houthis, an Islamic military organization. Missiles struck oil facilities and export ports.
The Trump administration claims the Houthi rebels act on Iran’s orders, though they officially deny it.
Trump downplayed any direct threat to American forces. “The US is in constant contact with the Houthis and they have agreed not to go to war with the US.”
Trump reportedly called off planned strikes against the Houthis
While the Saudis have pleaded for Trump’s help with handling the Houthis, the president has been hesitant to do so.
So much so that multiple news outlets report that he reversed his own decision to begin a bombing campaign against the Islamic military organization based in Yemen.
According to NBC News, Trump had ordered strikes against the Houthis on Sunday just before 6 p.m. Eastern time, but just three hours before the strikes were to begin, he reversed that decision.
