On Saturday, U.S. President Donald Trump ordered large-scale military strikes on Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels, following the group’s repeated attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea. The airstrikes killed at least 31 people and injured over 100 others, marking the beginning of what is expected to be a prolonged military campaign.
Trump issued a stern warning to Iran, urging the country to immediately cease its support of the Houthis. He threatened that if Iran posed a threat to the United States, “America will hold you fully accountable,” emphasizing that there would be no leniency.
The response from Iran was swift. A top commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards claimed that the Houthis act independently and make their own decisions. He further stated that Iran would retaliate decisively if any threats were acted upon.
This military operation represents the largest U.S. military intervention in the Middle East since Trump took office, and it comes amid increasing sanctions on Tehran. The strikes follow months of escalating tensions over the Houthis’ attacks on vessels in the Red Sea, which have disrupted global shipping and cost the U.S. military significant resources in missile and drone defense.
Trump, through his Truth Social platform, issued a dire warning to the Houthis: “YOUR TIME IS UP, AND YOUR ATTACKS MUST STOP, STARTING TODAY. IF THEY DON’T, HELL WILL RAIN DOWN UPON YOU LIKE NOTHING YOU HAVE EVER SEEN BEFORE!”
The U.S. military’s Central Command confirmed that the operation, which included fighter aircraft from the U.S. aircraft carrier Harry S. Truman, was part of a broader strategy to combat the growing threat from the Houthis. Pentagon officials noted that since 2023, the Houthis have carried out 174 attacks on U.S. warships and 145 on commercial vessels.
The Houthis, who control much of Yemen, have framed their attacks as part of a broader stance of solidarity with Palestinians amid the ongoing Israel-Gaza conflict. In response, the U.S. has ramped up military pressure, and the previous administration under President Joe Biden had taken a more limited approach.
Iran, which provides the Houthis with weapons and military support, condemned the strikes, labeling them a violation of international law. Iranian officials also rejected U.S. demands for talks on Iran’s nuclear program, despite increasing concerns in Tehran over potential domestic unrest due to economic hardships.
These strikes come at a time when the U.S. is also engaged in diplomatic efforts with other global powers, including Russia, as it navigates a complex international landscape involving both the Middle East and broader geopolitical issues.
