In the latest escalation of tensions in the Middle East, U.S. President Donald Trump issued a stern warning to Yemen’s Houthi rebels on Wednesday, stating they face “complete annihilation” as American airstrikes target areas under their control. These strikes also seem to amplify pressure on the Houthis’ staunch ally, Iran.
Reports from the Houthi-operated al-Masirah satellite channel indicated that strikes impacted Sanaa, the rebel-controlled capital, and their stronghold of Saada in the northwest. The footage showcased firefighters battling flames in Sanaa and showed damages to what was described as a sheep farm in al-Jawf. Strikes reportedly occurred overnight on Tuesday, although the U.S. military has refrained from detailing targeted sites since the onset of the airstrike campaign. The initial strikes over the weekend reportedly resulted in at least 53 casualties, including children, with others wounded.
President Trump took to his Truth Social platform, claiming significant damage had been inflicted on the Houthi forces. He cautioned that the situation would “get progressively worse,” emphasizing that the rebels would be “completely annihilated.” Furthermore, he reiterated his warning to Iran about providing arms to the Houthis, suggesting without evidence that Tehran had reduced its military support.
“Iran must stop the sending of these supplies IMMEDIATELY,” Trump declared. For years, Iran has equipped the Houthis, part of Islam’s Shiite Zaydi minority, which ruled Yemen until 1962. Although Tehran consistently denies these allegations, piles of evidence, including numerous weapon seizures and expert opinions, suggest otherwise. Tehran likely wishes to avoid United Nations sanctions for violating an arms embargo on the Houthis.
Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency responded to Trump’s remarks, referring to previous comments made by Iran’s U.N. ambassador, Amir Saeed Iravani, who dismissed Trump’s claims as unfounded.
Between November 2023 and January this year, the Houthis reportedly attacked over 100 merchant ships with missiles and drones, sinking two and resulting in the deaths of four sailors, just before the ceasefire in Gaza. This campaign elevated the Houthis’ visibility within the Arab world and muted criticism regarding their human rights practices and suppression of aid workers and dissent.
Moreover, Thursday saw an admission from the Houthi-controlled SABA news agency that the rebels had unlawfully appropriated food aid from a World Food Program warehouse, seizing approximately 20% of its contents. This development comes after the U.N. suspended operations in Saada in February due to security concerns, following the detention of numerous U.N. staff, resulting in the death of a World Food Program employee during imprisonment by the Houthis.