U.S. President Donald Trump ordered extensive military strikes against Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi forces on Saturday in retaliation for their assaults on Red Sea shipping. The operation, which marked the most significant American military action in the Middle East since Trump took office, left at least 31 dead and is expected to continue for an extended period.
Trump also issued a stern warning to Iran, the Houthis' primary supporter, demanding an immediate halt to its backing of the group. "If Iran threatens the United States, America will hold you fully accountable, and we won’t be nice about it!" he declared.
A U.S. official told Reuters that the strikes might last for weeks, intensifying pressure on Tehran as Washington simultaneously increases economic sanctions in an effort to bring Iran to the negotiating table over its nuclear program.
Addressing the Houthis directly, Trump took to Truth Social, stating: "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!"
According to Anees al-Asbahi, spokesperson for the Houthi-controlled health ministry, the strikes killed at least 31 people and injured 101 others, including many women and children. The Houthis denounced the attacks as a "war crime" and vowed retaliation, stating, "Our Yemeni armed forces are fully prepared to respond to escalation with escalation."
Residents of Sanaa described the airstrikes as devastating. "The explosions were violent and shook the neighborhood like an earthquake. They terrified our women and children," said Abdullah Yahia, a local resident. The attacks also targeted Houthi military sites in Taiz, while another strike on a power station in Dahyan caused widespread outages.
The Houthis, who have controlled large parts of Yemen for nearly a decade, have significantly disrupted global trade since November 2023 with numerous attacks on ships in the Red Sea. These assaults have forced companies to reroute vessels on longer, costlier journeys around Africa. The Pentagon reported that, since 2023, the Houthis have launched 174 attacks on U.S. warships and 145 strikes on commercial vessels. The Houthis claim their actions are in solidarity with Palestinians amid Israel's war with Hamas in Gaza.
The strikes on Saturday were carried out by fighter jets from the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman, with the U.S. Central Command describing them as the start of a large-scale military operation. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reinforced the U.S. stance, stating on X: "Houthi attacks on American ships & aircraft (and our troops!) will not be tolerated; and Iran, their benefactor, is on notice."
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi condemned the U.S. strikes, accusing Washington of hypocrisy. "End support for Israeli genocide and terrorism. Stop killing of Yemeni people," he wrote on X. Iran has denied accusations of seeking nuclear weapons, though the U.N.'s nuclear watchdog warns that Tehran is enriching uranium at levels nearing weapons-grade capacity.
Meanwhile, Secretary of State Marco Rubio informed Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov about the strikes, signaling a possible shift in U.S.-Russia relations. Russia has relied on Iranian weaponry in its ongoing conflict in Ukraine, U.S. and Ukrainian officials claim.
The escalation in Yemen underscores broader geopolitical tensions, with the Houthis remaining a formidable force despite pressure on Iran’s other regional allies. While Hamas and Hezbollah have suffered setbacks, the Houthis have continued their aggressive campaign, sinking ships and killing sailors. The conflict remains a flashpoint in an already volatile region, with further military action likely in the coming weeks.