President Donald Trump announced that the US had initiated a “decisive and powerful” wave of air strikes on Houthi rebels in Yemen, attributing the action to the group’s assaults on Red Sea shipping.
Trump declared on his Truth social platform that the Houthis, supported by Iran, have launched missiles at US aircraft and targeted American troops and allies, accusing them of piracy, violence, and terrorism that have led to substantial financial costs and endangered lives.
According to the Houthi-run health ministry, the air strikes resulted in at least 31 fatalities and 101 injuries.
In retaliation for the US strikes, the group, which has also targeted shipping as part of its response to the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza, vowed to strike back.
On Saturday evening, a sequence of blasts was reported by the Houthis in Sanaa and Saada, the latter being a stronghold near the Saudi border.
The Houthi group, backed by Iran and opposed to Israel, holds sway over Sanaa and north-west Yemen, though it is not recognized as the legitimate government of Yemen.
Images circulating online show large plumes of black smoke rising from near Sanaa’s airport, which includes a military site.
The Houthis accused the US and the UK of aggressive actions targeting civilian areas in Sanaa, condemning it as malevolent.
While the UK did not directly participate in the strikes, it did provide routine refueling assistance to the US operations.
Trump emphasized that such attacks would not be tolerated and promised the use of decisive lethal force to achieve US objectives.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi criticized the US, stating it has no right to dictate Iran’s foreign policy, urging an end to support for what he described as Israeli acts of genocide and violence and calling for a halt to the harm against Yemenis.
The Houthis maintain their actions support the Palestinians in the Gaza conflict and claim, albeit often inaccurately, to target vessels associated only with Israel, the US, or the UK.
Since November 2023, the Houthis have attacked numerous commercial ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden with missiles, drones, and boats, sinking two, seizing another, and killing four crew members.
Despite the deployment of Western naval forces and repeated US and UK air strikes, the Houthis remain undeterred.
Israel has also conducted air strikes against the Houthis since July in retaliation for over 400 missile and drone launches from Yemen, most of which were intercepted.
Major shipping firms have ceased using the Red Sea route, which carries nearly 15% of the world’s maritime trade, opting for a longer passage around southern Africa.
Trump noted that no US-flagged ship has navigated the Suez Canal safely in over a year, and that it had been four months since a US warship traversed this strategic waterway.
The Suez Canal remains a critical maritime link for Asia and Europe, particularly for the oil and liquefied natural gas sectors.
Trump warned the Houthis of severe consequences if they do not cease their actions, stating that a formidable response would be unleashed.
Despite this, the Houthis remained defiant, asserting that their support for the Palestinians would continue regardless of the aggression and promising to meet escalation with further escalation.
During discussions with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized the necessity of halting Houthi attacks on US interests in the Red Sea.
Lavrov called for an immediate end to hostilities and stressed the importance of political dialogue to prevent further casualties, as conveyed by the Russian foreign ministry.
Between November 2023 and October 2024, the Houthis launched 190 attacks in the Red Sea, as reported by the US Congress.
Both the US and the UK have previously engaged in joint naval and aerial operations against the group, with Israel also targeting Houthi-linked sites in separate strikes.
Trump called on Iran to stop supporting the Houthis and warned of severe consequences, accusing the previous administration under Joe Biden of weakness that enabled Houthi activities to persist unabated.
