WASHINGTON:
The United States has initiated a “decisive and forceful military operation” aimed at neutralizing the threat posed by Yemen’s Houthi rebels to maritime traffic in the Red Sea, President Donald Trump announced on Saturday.
The declaration followed reports from Houthi-affiliated media outlets of airstrikes targeting Yemen’s capital, Sanaa. In a social media statement, Trump also issued a direct warning to Iran, demanding that it cease its support for the rebel group “without delay.”
“We will deploy overwhelming and lethal force until our objectives are met,” he asserted.
In Sanaa, which is under Houthi control, AFP journalists reported hearing distant explosions, while al-Masirah TV, a Houthi-aligned broadcaster, claimed that “an American-British assault targeted a residential area in the Shuub district.”
The U.S. military action came shortly after the Houthis declared their intention to attack all Israeli-affiliated vessels navigating the Red Sea, Arabian Sea, Bab al-Mandab Strait, and Gulf of Aden. This threat was issued in response to Israel’s restrictions on humanitarian aid entering the Palestinian territory of Gaza.
While Trump’s statement did not address the Israeli-Palestinian conflict directly, it emphasized the Houthis’ prior assaults on U.S. and international naval vessels and commercial ships.
“To all Houthi militants: YOUR TIME IS UP, AND YOUR ATTACKS MUST CEASE, EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY. IF THEY DO NOT, YOU WILL FACE UNPRECEDENTED CONSEQUENCES,” he warned.
In addition to announcing the military action against the Houthis, who have repeatedly disrupted international shipping near Yemen’s coastline, Trump delivered a stern message to Iran, the group’s primary supporter.
“To Iran: Your backing of the Houthi militants must END NOW!” he stated.
“Do NOT threaten the American people, their President, or global shipping routes. If you do, BE WARNED—America will hold you fully responsible, and we will not hesitate to act decisively!”
Since November 2023, one month after the outbreak of the Hamas-Israel conflict in the Gaza Strip, the Houthis have intensified their campaign against commercial and military vessels in the region. They claim their actions are in solidarity with the Palestinian cause.
Using drones and missiles, the group has targeted ships in critical waterways such as the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea, focusing on vessels they allege are connected to Israel, the United States, and the United Kingdom.
