U.S. President Donald Trump launched large-scale military strikes against Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis on Saturday in response to their attacks on Red Sea shipping, resulting in at least 31 deaths at the start of an operation expected to span multiple days.
Trump also issued a warning to Iran, the Houthis’ primary supporter, urging it to cease its backing of the group immediately. He cautioned that any threat from Iran against the United States would be met with severe consequences.
According to a U.S. official, the strikes may continue for weeks, marking the most extensive U.S. military campaign in the Middle East since Trump assumed office in January. The offensive coincides with increased U.S. sanctions on Iran, aimed at pressuring Tehran into nuclear negotiations.
Addressing the Houthis directly on his social media platform, Trump declared, “Your time is up, and your attacks must stop starting today. If they don’t, hell will rain down upon you like never before.”
In the initial wave of airstrikes, at least 13 civilians were reported killed and nine others wounded in Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, according to the Houthi-controlled health ministry. Another attack in Saada province reportedly resulted in 11 deaths, including four children and a woman, with 14 others injured, as per Houthi-run Al-Masirah TV.
The Houthi political bureau denounced the strikes as a “war crime” and vowed retaliation, stating that their forces were fully prepared to respond with escalation.
Residents in Sanaa described the bombardment as powerful, shaking entire neighborhoods. One local, Abdullah Yahia, compared the impact to an earthquake, expressing fear for women and children in the area. In Saada, an airstrike on a power station in Dahyan caused widespread electricity outages. Dahyan is known as a meeting place for Houthi leader Abdul Malik al-Houthi.
The Houthis, who have gained control over much of Yemen in the past decade, have launched numerous attacks on commercial and military vessels since November 2023, disrupting global trade. The U.S. military has since been engaged in costly missile and drone interceptions. The Pentagon reports that the Houthis have targeted U.S. warships 174 times and commercial vessels 145 times since 2023, framing their actions as support for Palestinians amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
While other Iranian allies in the region, including Hamas and Hezbollah, have suffered significant setbacks, the Houthis have maintained an offensive stance. Their attacks have resulted in the sinking of two ships, the seizure of another, and the deaths of at least four seafarers, forcing shipping companies to reroute their vessels through longer and more expensive routes around Africa.
Trump’s administration has taken a more aggressive stance compared to previous U.S. policy. The latest airstrikes were launched from the USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier in the Red Sea as part of a broader military campaign across Yemen.
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated that attacks on American ships and personnel would not be tolerated and placed Iran “on notice.” Trump reinforced this stance, pledging to use overwhelming force until the objective is achieved.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi dismissed the U.S. action, asserting that Washington has no authority over Tehran’s foreign policy. He criticized U.S. support for Israel, calling for an end to what he termed “the killing of Yemeni people.”
Iran has yet to issue an official response through its UN mission.
The Houthis recently announced a resumption of attacks on Israeli-linked vessels in the Red Sea, Arabian Sea, Bab al-Mandab Strait, and the Gulf of Aden, ending a brief period of calm since a ceasefire in Gaza was established in January.
The U.S. strikes follow a recent letter from Trump to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, seeking negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program. However, Khamenei rejected talks with Washington.
Iran is also facing growing internal unrest, with officials fearing mass protests due to economic hardships. Meanwhile, Iranian military capabilities have been weakened following Israeli strikes on missile facilities in response to Iran’s drone and missile attacks.
Western nations argue that Iran’s uranium enrichment to 60%—close to weapons-grade levels—is unnecessary for civilian use, with no other country pursuing such levels without developing nuclear weapons. Iran maintains that its program is solely for peaceful purposes.
In a separate diplomatic move, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio informed Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov about the U.S. strikes in Yemen, reflecting an effort to maintain dialogue with Moscow. Russia has relied on Iranian-supplied drones and missiles in its war in Ukraine, according to U.S. and Ukrainian officials.
