U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated on Sunday that there are no current plans for American ground operations in Yemen, following a series of airstrikes targeting the Houthis over the weekend. "I've heard no discussions about ground raids, and I don't believe they're necessary at this point," he remarked.
Rubio emphasized that the strikes are specifically designed to dismantle the Houthis' capacity to threaten global shipping and U.S. Navy vessels, describing the mission as a service to the international community. "This operation is about removing their ability to dominate global shipping in the region. That will no longer be tolerated," he said in an interview with CBS’ Face The Nation.
He underscored that these actions go beyond protecting American interests, as they also help secure vital global trade routes. "By neutralizing their ability to disrupt shipping, we're doing the entire world a favor," he asserted. "And we will persist until that objective is met."
Additionally, Rubio issued a pointed warning to Iran, asserting that the Houthis would not be capable of such attacks without Tehran’s backing. "This sends a clear message to Iran—stop supporting them, or you will bear responsibility for their assaults on Navy vessels and global shipping," he cautioned.