Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued a stark warning to Yemen’s Houthis on Monday, declaring that the ongoing US bombing campaign is “about to get worse.”

The warning came amid a three-week campaign of continued US strikes aimed at degrading the Houthis’ military capabilities in response to attacks on international shipping in the Red Sea. According to a Pentagon readout, Hegseth also spoke with Saudi Arabia’s Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman to discuss the ongoing operations and efforts to strengthen bilateral defense ties.

Prince Khalid confirmed the conversation in a post on X, saying the two also discussed regional developments and “our shared vision to promote regional and international security and stability.”

Pentagon Spokesman Sean Parnell said Hegseth and Prince Khalid exchanged views on regional security, “including progress on US operations to degrade Houthi capabilities and uphold freedom of navigation in the Red Sea.”

Following a meeting at the White House with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Hegseth reiterated the administration’s firm stance, telling reporters in the Oval Office: “It’s been a bad three weeks for the Houthis, and it’s about to get worse.” He described the campaign as “devastating,” targeting underground facilities, weapons manufacturing bunkers, Houthi fighters, and air defense systems.

Hegseth also directed criticism toward Iran, warning Tehran against continued support for the Houthis. “We have a lot more options and a lot more pressure to apply,” he said.

President Donald Trump echoed the administration’s claims that the strikes have killed several senior Houthi figures and weapons experts. However, the White House has not provided evidence to support these assertions, and Pentagon officials have declined to offer further details.

As tensions continue to rise, Hegseth last week ordered the deployment of additional US troops and military assets to the region. Several B-2 stealth bombers — capable of carrying 30,000-pound bunker-buster bombs — have been positioned in the Indian Ocean. These aircraft have been used in strikes on underground Houthi sites in October and again during the broader campaign under Trump that began on March 15, US officials said.