United States President Donald Trump ordered large-scale military strikes against Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi movement on Saturday in response to the group's attacks on Red Sea shipping, killing at least 31 people in what officials described as the beginning of an extended military operation.
The strikes, carried out by fighter jets from the USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier in the Red Sea, targeted multiple locations across Yemen, including the capital Sanaa and the northern province of Saada. According to the Houthi-run health ministry, at least 13 civilians were killed and nine injured in Sanaa, while Al-Masirah TV reported that 11 others, including four children, were killed in Saada.
Trump issued a stark warning to Iran, the Houthis’ primary backer, urging it to halt support for the group. “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 on his Truth Social platform.
The Pentagon stated that the strikes were in direct response to the Houthis’ continued assaults on commercial and military vessels in the Red Sea, which have disrupted global shipping and escalated tensions in the region. Since November 2023, the Houthis have targeted U.S. warships 174 times and commercial vessels 145 times, a Pentagon spokesperson said.
Houthis vow retaliation
In a statement, the Houthis’ political bureau condemned the U.S. attacks, calling them a “war crime” and warning of retaliation. “Our Yemeni armed forces are fully prepared to respond to escalation with escalation,” the statement read.
Residents in Sanaa described the strikes as powerful, shaking buildings and causing panic. “The explosions were violent and shook the neighborhood like an earthquake. They terrified our women and children,” said Abdullah Yahia, a local resident.
Another airstrike targeted a power station in Dahyan, a town in Saada province where Houthi leader Abdul Malik al-Houthi is known to hold meetings. The strike resulted in a blackout in the area, Al-Masirah TV reported.
Escalating tensions with Iran
The military action has further strained U.S.-Iran relations, with Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi rejecting Washington’s stance. “End support for Israeli genocide and terrorism. Stop killing of Yemeni people,” he posted on X (formerly Twitter).
The strikes come days after a letter from Trump to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was delivered, reportedly seeking negotiations over Iran’s nuclear programme. However, Khamenei dismissed the prospect of talks with Washington.
Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Saturday, informing him of the military action in Yemen, the State Department said. The development comes amid reports that Russia has been relying on Iranian-supplied drones and missiles in its war in Ukraine.
Red Sea shipping crisis
The Houthis, who have controlled large parts of Yemen for nearly a decade, have intensified their attacks on ships transiting the Red Sea since late 2023. The group claims its attacks are in solidarity with Palestinians amid Israel’s ongoing war in Gaza.
The U.S. administration of then-President Joe Biden had previously attempted to curb Houthi aggression through limited military responses. However, Trump’s latest offensive marks a shift toward a more aggressive military posture.
With the situation in the Red Sea worsening and the Houthis vowing to continue their offensive, concerns are rising over further escalation in the region. The U.S. has signalled that its military campaign against the Houthis is set to continue, with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stating that "Freedom of Navigation will be restored.”
