In a move to counteract threats against commercial shipping routes, President Donald Trump announced that the U.S. has initiated a series of air raids targeting areas controlled by the Houthi rebels in Yemen. Trump declared the strikes would persist with substantial force until the Iranian-supported rebels halt their assaults on a key maritime corridor. The recent actions have resulted in the reported deaths of at least 18 civilians.
“Our courageous forces are currently executing aerial assaults to neutralize the terrorists’ infrastructure, leadership, and missile defenses,” announced Trump via a social media post. This operation aims to safeguard American shipping interests and re-establish navigational freedom while maintaining that no terrorist group will impede American vessels in international waters. He also issued a stern warning to Iran, indicating the country’s full accountability for its support of the Houthis. This development comes after Trump reached out to Iranian leaders to negotiate over Iran’s burgeoning nuclear agenda, asserting that it would not achieve operational status.
Reports of detonations emerged from Yemen’s Houthi-held regions on Saturday evening, specifically in the capital city of Sanaa and the northern province of Saada. Identified as a rebel stronghold near the Saudi border, these locales witnessed more aerial bombardments by Sunday morning. Online images showed smoke plumes over the Sanaa airport complex, known to host military facilities. The Houthi media also reported subsequent strikes on Hodeida, Bayda, and Marib provinces. The health ministry, controlled by the Houthis, stated that the fatalities included 13 victims in Sanaa and five in Saada, with additional injuries.
Unnamed U.S. officials confirmed that this offensive marks the beginning of a sequence of planned strikes against Houthi targets, which are anticipated to continue. Speaking on the condition of anonymity, the official disclosed this information as they were not cleared to speak publicly. Meanwhile, Nasruddin Amer, a senior figure in Houthi media, vowed that the airstrikes wouldn’t suppress their resolve and pledged retaliation against the United States. Another representative, Mohamed Abdulsalam, disputed Trump’s allegations regarding threats to global shipping as deceitful.
The airstrike campaign coincides with recent Houthi assertions of resuming assaults on Israeli maritime targets in response to new blockades on Gaza. This threat highlights significant passageways like the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, Bab el-Mandeb Strait, and the Arabian Sea. However, no fresh Houthi attacks have surfaced as yet. The airstrikes also align temporarily with Israel’s earlier suspension of aid to Gaza amidst pressure on Hamas to extend an ongoing ceasefire and discussions regarding progression to a subsequent phase.
Since the onset of the conflict between Israel and Hamas in late 2023, the Houthis have aggressively targeted more than 100 merchant vessels. This campaign resulted in the destruction of two ships and the deaths of four sailors before the current ceasefire between Gaza deployment in January. These maritime endeavors have significantly amplified the Houthis’ reputation amidst Yemen’s persistent and prolonged civil war.
The strikes allegedly impacted a residential sector in northern Sanaa, the district of Shouab, as reported by the Houthi media. Residents recounted experiencing severe tremors from the air assaults in the densely populated Eastern Geraf neighborhood, which houses military installations and the political bureau of the Houthi rebels. “The blasts were considerably intense,” noted one local, Abdallah al-Alffi, likening the occurrence to an earthquake. Later, further strikes were reported in Dhamar province.
Previously, the Houthis have been targeted by airstrikes from forces involving the United States, Israel, and Britain. However, on this occasion, a U.S. official confirms that the strikes were exclusively conducted by American forces, marking the first foray against Yemeni Houthis under Trump’s second tenure. The Biden administration had previously executed similar comprehensive attacks in response to recurrent Houthi aggressions toward ships.
The USS Harry S. Truman carrier strike group, featuring a carrier, three destroyers, and a cruiser, played a pivotal role in Saturday’s operations while patrolling the Red Sea. Additionally, the USS Georgia cruise missile submarine contributes to the regional missions.
Trump, communicating these developments while stationed at Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida, underscored the economic repercussions of these persistent threats. He emphasized the cost in billions to both U.S. interests and the global economy, as well as the peril risked by innocents.
