WASHINGTON, USA — U.S. President Donald Trump has ordered a major military operation against Houthi rebels in Yemen, in response to the Iran-backed group’s attacks on international shipping in the Red Sea.
The airstrikes, launched Saturday, have resulted in at least 31 deaths and 101 injuries, according to Yemen’s Houthi-run health ministry.
The strikes mark a significant escalation in U.S. military action in the region, with Trump vowing to continue attacks until the Houthis cease hostilities.
The president announced the operation in a Truth Social post, stating the U.S. would use “overwhelming lethal force” to neutralise the threat.
“No terrorist force will stop American commercial and naval vessels from freely sailing the Waterways of the World,” Trump wrote, describing the Houthis’ actions as “an unrelenting campaign of piracy, violence, and terrorism”.
Multiple Strikes Across Yemen
The U.S. operation targeted Houthi military infrastructure, including missile defense systems, command centers, and bases.
In Sanaa, Yemen’s capital, and Saada, in the country’s north, the health ministry reported fatalities, while further strikes in Dahyan reportedly hit a power station, causing a citywide blackout, according to the Houthi-run Al-Masirah TV.
U.S. National Security Advisor Michael Waltz confirmed the deaths of multiple Houthi leaders, calling the operation an “overwhelming response” aimed at crippling the Houthis’ capabilities and holding Iran accountable for its support of the group.
“This is not a one-off. This is the beginning of an ongoing series of events that will last days if not weeks,” a U.S. defense official told CNN, adding that no U.S. troops would be deployed on the ground.
Iran and Russia Condemn U.S. Strikes
Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi condemned the U.S. action, calling it an illegal intervention in Yemen.
“The United States Government has no authority, or business, dictating Iranian foreign policy,” Araghchi wrote on X.
“End support for Israeli genocide and terrorism. Stop killing of Yemeni people.”
Russia also criticized the U.S. strikes, with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov urging an immediate cessation of hostilities in a phone call with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Houthis Threaten Escalation
The Houthis denounced the U.S. military action as a “war crime” and warned of further retaliation.
“Our Yemeni armed forces are fully prepared to respond to escalation with escalation,” the Houthi political bureau said in a statement.
The group had previously halted attacks on Red Sea vessels following a January ceasefire in Gaza, but recent tensions over Israeli aid blockages have led to renewed threats of maritime disruption.
Trump Orders Sustained Offensive
Trump approved the strike plan weeks ago, according to U.S. officials, but intelligence gathering delayed a full-scale campaign.
The White House has signaled that the U.S. will continue targeted operations against the Houthis in the coming weeks.
“To all Houthi terrorists, 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!” Trump wrote.
As tensions mount, the operation marks a significant shift in U.S. engagement in the region, with implications for both the ongoing conflict in Yemen and broader U.S.-Iran relations.
