U.S. President Donald Trump has ordered a “decisive” military strike against the Houthi rebels in Yemen, marking a new phase in America’s efforts to counter the Iran-backed group. The airstrikes, which took place on Saturday, resulted in at least 23 deaths and over 20 injuries, according to the Houthi-run health ministry.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump stated that the U.S. would deploy “overwhelming lethal force” against the Houthis “until we have achieved our objective.” He accused the group of launching an “unrelenting campaign of piracy, violence, and terrorism against American, and other, ships, aircraft, and drones.” He emphasized that the strikes would aim to protect American shipping, air, and naval assets while ensuring the safety of international waterways.
Deadly Strikes in Sanaa and Saada
The deadly strikes targeted multiple locations in Yemen, including the capital, Sanaa, and the northern province of Saada. In Sanaa, at least 13 people were killed, and nine others were injured. In Saada, 10 people were killed, and 13 were injured, with most of the casualties being women and children. The strikes also hit a power station in Saada, causing widespread power outages.
“The US aggression against Yemen is a criminal escalation that will not break the will of the Yemeni people and will only increase their determination to support Gaza and the resistance,” said Houthi-run health ministry spokesperson Anees Alasbahi.
Trump Issues Warning to Iran
Trump’s announcement of the military action also included a direct warning to Iran, the Houthis’ main backer. He stated that Iran must “immediately” cease its support for the group, threatening that if Iran posed a threat to the U.S. or its president, “America will hold you fully accountable and, we won’t be nice about it!”
A Sustained Attack on Houthi Positions
The attack follows a months-long effort by the U.S. to degrade Houthi capabilities, particularly in response to their disruption of international shipping lanes in the Red Sea. Over the last year, the Houthis have targeted more than 100 vessels, including U.S. ships, with drones, missiles, and small ships. Trump’s administration approved the strike plan late last week, following a request made several weeks earlier.
While the initial strikes were carried out on Saturday, further actions depend on battle damage assessments, and more attacks are expected in the coming weeks. A senior military official confirmed that the intelligence required for broader strikes had been gathered, and the larger campaign of targeted attacks was now underway.
U.S. Diplomatic Efforts and Ongoing Military Action
Secretary of State Marco Rubio discussed the strikes with his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, stressing that Houthi attacks on U.S. military and commercial vessels would not be tolerated. Despite efforts from the Biden administration to curtail the group’s attacks, including targeted strikes on Houthi positions in the past, the assaults have continued.
The Houthis had previously promised to cease attacks on shipping lanes in the Red Sea if a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas was maintained. However, their continued assaults have led to a protracted crisis in the region’s busy shipping corridor.
Trump’s Stance on the Houthis and Future Actions
Trump’s stance on the Houthis is clear: he has designated the group a “foreign terrorist organization” and has criticized the Biden administration’s handling of the situation as “pathetically weak.” He pointed out that it had been over a year since a U.S. commercial ship safely sailed through the Red Sea, and four months since a U.S. warship was attacked by the Houthis.
In his Truth Social post, Trump vowed to take further action against the group, stating, “YOUR TIME IS UP, AND YOUR ATTACKS MUST STOP, STARTING TODAY. IF THEY DON’T, HELL WILL RAIN DOWN UPON YOU LIKE NOTHING YOU HAVE EVER SEEN BEFORE!”
