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US refuses to rule out strikes on Iran & warns ‘this is not the end’ as Tehran makes chilling threat after Yemen blitz
Watch Iran's chilling warning to the US in our video above
THE US has refused to rule out direct strikes on Iran after a series of American attacks in the Middle East.
White House National security adviser Jake Sullivan said the weekend attacks are "not the end" of US action in the region - as Tehran issued a disturbing warning to American forces.
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Tehran on Sunday told America to leave Iranian spy ships in the Red Sea alone after the US and UK last night targeted Houthis in Yemen.
The two cargo vessels Iran warned the US to stay away from are thought to have IRGC commandos on board, serving as military bases for Tehran's warped terrorist army.
When the White House security chief was then asked if the US had taken Iran strikes "off the table", he said the president is "determined to respond forcefully to attacks on our people".
And he refused to rule out potential unprecedented direct action by American forces on Iranian soil.
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Sullivan explained: "What happened on Friday was the beginning, not the end, of our response, and there will be more steps - some seen, some perhaps unseen."
The US and UK strikes on Saturday are the third set of joint attacks to hit Houthis in Yemen.
They followed America's strikes in Iraq and Syria on Friday which also targeted Iran-backed militant groups.
The Pentagon said 36 targets were struck - after Iraq warned that the Middle East was "on the brink of the abyss" as tensions boil over.
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The US aimed at underground missile arsenals, launch sites and helicopters used by the rebel group in 13 different locations.
And today's warning could be a sign of Tehran's nervousness about Western efforts to hit Iran via its proxy terror groups in the Middle East.
All of the recent attacks - including this weeks retaliation for the recent killing of three American soldiers in Jordan - stem back to Hamas' war with Israel.
Iran has repeatedly been tied to the ongoing conflict and is believed to finance and provide weapons to groups like Hamas, Hezbollah and the Houthis.
Tehran today told the US to leave the Behshad and Saviz ships - which have loitered off the coast of Yemen for years - alone during attacks in Yemen.
Both vessels are listed as commercial Tehran cargo ships - but are suspected of operating as spy bases for Iran's Revolutionary Guard.
Saudi Arabia once dubbed the Saviz a maritime base and described it as a weapons hotpoint for the IRGC - crawling with men kitted out in military gear.
Chilling footage at the time even showed what appeared to be a machine gun bolted to the deck of the ship.
And the Iranian army statement today appeared to admit that the vessels operate as "floating armouries".
The Behshad was also described as working on an Iranian mission in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden - a hotbed of recent attacks in the world's busiest shipping lane.
Their televised statement ended with a warning and a disturbing montage of footage of US warships and an American flag.
It warned that anyone carrying out "terrorist activities" against the vessels would be taking responsibility for potential retaliation.
Following Saturday's strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen, a spokesperson for the extremist group said they would not be discouraged from expressing support for Hamas.
Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree added: "The aggressors airstrikes will not go unanswered";.
US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin warned them that further consequences would come if they didn't cease the relentless Red Sea attacks.
And today White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said America "intends" to launch more strikes against various Iran-backed groups.
The group has bombarded a string of Israeli, American and British-linked vessels off the coast of Yemen in recent months - even hijacking the Galaxy Leader cargo ship entirely.
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According to , the Behshad was near the Galaxy Leader in November when it was stormed by armed Houthi rebels.
British Foreign Secretary David Cameron supported the American sentiment and reaffirmed the UK's insistence that Houthi attacks must stop.
Who are the Houthis?
THE Houthi rebels are terrorising vessels and warships in the Red Sea - but who are they?
The Shia militant group, which now controls most of Yemen, spent over a decade being largely ignored by the world.
However, since the outbreak of the Israel-Gaza war they sprung from relative obscurity to hostage - turning one of the world's busiest
Their warped slogan is “Death to America, Death to Israel, curse the Jews and victory to Islam”.
Why are they attacking ships?
The rebel group has been launching relentless drone and missile attacks on any ships - including warships - they deem to be connected with Israel in solidarity with their ally Hamas.
The sea assaults have threatened to ignite a full-blown war in the Middle East as ripples from Israel's war in Gaza are felt across the region - with Iran suspected of stoking the chaos.
However, there have been frequent attacks on commercial vessels with little or no link to Israel - forcing global sea traffic to halt operations in the region and sending shipping prices soaring.
Houthi attacks in the Red Sea increased 50 per cent between November and December.
The rebel group's leaders have previously pledged the attacks will continue until Israel stops its devastating offensive inside Gaza - despite recent US and UK strikes on their military strongholds.
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