On Saturday, the United States launched a series of airstrikes against the Houthi rebels in Yemen as President Donald Trump issued a stern warning to the Iran-supported group, promising severe repercussions if they continued threatening maritime traffic in the Red Sea.
President Trump further cautioned Iran to cease its support for these militants without delay. This military response came just days after the Houthis, who largely control Yemen’s densely populated northern regions, hinted at resuming their assaults on vessels navigating the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump announced, “Today, I have commanded the U.S. military to execute decisive and forceful action against the Houthi terrorists in Yemen. These rebels have persistently engaged in piracy, violence, and terrorism against American ships, aircraft, and drones, as well as those of other nations.”
Over the past year, the Houthis have launched numerous attacks on merchant ships and U.S. Navy vessels in the Red Sea, claiming solidarity with Palestinians amidst Israel’s intense offensive against Hamas in Gaza. These aggressive acts severely disrupted one of the world’s key maritime trade routes, continuing even in the face of retaliatory airstrikes by the U.S., the UK, and Israel on Houthi military positions in Yemen.
The Houthis temporarily halted these actions following a tentative ceasefire in January, agreed upon by Israel and Hamas, which included the release of hostages taken during Hamas’s October 7, 2023, assault on Israel. However, recent tensions flared as the Houthis threatened renewed attacks, stirred by Israel’s blockade of aid to Gaza intended to pressure Hamas into accepting an updated phase of the ceasefire agreement.
Saturday’s airstrikes targeted the leadership, bases, and missile defenses of the Houthis, according to Trump. “Any attack by Houthis on American ships will not go unpunished,” Trump stated unequivocally. “We will apply overwhelming lethal force until our objectives are met.”
Trump didn’t mince words in his address to the Houthi fighters: “YOUR TIME IS UP. YOUR ATTACKS MUST STOP IMMEDIATELY, OR FACE UNPRECEDENTED CONSEQUENCES!”
The President also issued a stark warning to Tehran regarding its backing of the Yemeni rebels, part of the broader Iran-aligned factions known as the “axis of resistance.” The United States and Israel have accused Iran of equipping the Houthis with increasingly advanced drone and missile technologies, along with providing intelligence support.
“To Iran: Cease all support for the Houthi terrorists IMMEDIATELY!” he demanded. “Do not challenge the American people, their President—one of the most widely supported in history—or global shipping routes. If you do, prepare for accountability, as America will not respond kindly.”
Trump is reinstating his “maximum pressure” strategy against Iran, reminiscent of his first term when he withdrew the U.S. from the 2015 nuclear agreement and imposed numerous sanctions. Since regaining the presidency, he has announced additional sanctions while also expressing a desire to renegotiate the nuclear issue with Iran, maintaining that military options remain on the table. Furthermore, his administration has labeled the Houthis as a foreign terrorist organization, escalating the pressure on the Yemeni insurgents.
The Houthi-controlled health ministry in Sana’a, Yemen’s capital, reported that at least nine civilians were killed and nine others injured due to the U.S. attacks. For a decade, the Houthis have held sway over Sana’a and the surrounding northern areas after displacing the Yemeni government in a conflict that plunged the impoverished nation into civil turmoil. This unrest drew in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, leading an Arab coalition against the Houthis since March 2015.
These recent strikes represent the most significant military action taken by Trump since resuming his presidency. “The conflict between the United States and the Houthis has escalated starkly, with tonight’s airstrikes signifying a notable shift,” commented Mohammed Al-Basha, founder of the U.S.-based Basha Report consultancy. “From this point, it’s an all-out confrontation between the Houthis and CENTCOM, the U.S. Central Command.”
Neither Yemen’s embassy in Washington nor Iran’s mission to the United Nations immediately responded to requests for comment on these developments.
