Headline: US Executes Comprehensive Air Strikes Against Yemen's Houthi Rebels
Body: The United States has carried out a robust series of air strikes against the Houthi rebels in Yemen, according to a statement from President Donald Trump. He pointed to the rebels' assaults on Red Sea shipping as the rationale for the action.
The Houthi rebels, funded by Iran, have launched missile strikes against US aircraft, and posed a threat to American troops and their allies, according to Trump. The president further stated that the rebels' acts of piracy, violence, and terrorism have cost billions and endangered lives.
The Houthi-controlled health ministry reported that a minimum of 31 people were killed and an additional 101 were wounded as a result of the air strikes. The group has vowed to persist in its attacks on Red Sea shipping until the Israeli blockade of Gaza is lifted, and pledged to retaliate against the air strikes.
The Houthis announced that a string of explosions occurred on a recent Saturday evening in Yemen's capital, Sanaa, and in the northern province of Saada, a rebel stronghold bordering Saudi Arabia. The rebels, backed by Iran and opposing Israel, control Sanaa and northwest Yemen, but are not the internationally acknowledged government of the country.
Unconfirmed images depict towering columns of black smoke in the vicinity of Sanaa's airport, which houses a military base. The Houthis placed blame on the US and UK for the malevolent aggression targeting residential zones in Sanaa.
While the UK did not partake in the recent US strikes against the Houthi targets, it did offer routine refuelling support for the US. The Houthis have claimed, often without evidence, that they are acting in solidarity with the Palestinians in the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza and that their targets are exclusively ships tied to Israel, the US, or the UK.
Since November 2023, the Houthis have launched attacks on numerous merchant vessels in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden with missiles, drones, and small boats. The rebels have sunk two ships, seized another, and caused the deaths of four crew members. Trump conveyed that such attacks "will not be tolerated."
"We will utilize overwhelming lethal force until we have achieved our objective," he added.
Despite the deployment of Western warships to safeguard merchant vessels and numerous US and British air strikes on its military targets, the Houthis remain undeterred. Israel has also conducted air strikes against the Houthis in response to approximately 400 missiles and drones launched at Israel from Yemen, most of which were intercepted and destroyed.
Major shipping companies have ceased using the Red Sea, a route typically responsible for nearly 15% of global seaborne trade, and have instead opted for a longer route around southern Africa. Trump noted that over a year has passed since a US-flagged ship safely traversed the Suez Canal, which is linked to the Red Sea, and four months since a US warship entered the body of water between East Africa and the Arabian Peninsula.
The Suez Canal, the fastest sea route between Asia and Europe, plays a critical role in the transport of oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG).
In a stern message to the Houthis, Trump warned that if they did not cease, they would face unprecedented retribution. However, the Houthis remained steadfast, declaring that the aggression would not diminish their support for the Palestinians.
Trump called on Iran to halt its support for the Houthis, cautioning that Washington would hold Tehran fully accountable. He also criticized the previous White House administration under Joe Biden, accusing it of being weak and allowing the Houthis to operate unchecked.
Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi dismissed the US government's attempts to influence Iranian foreign policy. He called for an end to support for Israeli actions and the cessation of Yemeni deaths.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, while speaking with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, highlighted the need to deter Houthi attacks on US military and commercial shipping vessels in the Red Sea. Lavrov acknowledged the urgent necessity to cease the use of force and the importance of engaging all parties in political dialogue to prevent further violence, according to the Russian foreign ministry.