US Strikes In Yemen Kill 31 As Trump Vows To End Huthi Attacks
The first US strikes against Yemen’s Houthi rebels since Donald Trump took office resulted in the deaths of 31 people, according to the rebels, who also reported that children were among the casualties. The airstrikes hit various locations, including Sanaa, Saada, Al-Bayda, and Radaa, leaving at least 31 dead and 101 wounded, many of whom were women and children. An AFP photographer in Sanaa witnessed explosions and plumes of smoke rising from the capital, a sign of the intense violence.
Houthi media released footage showing injured children and women in hospital emergency rooms, including a dazed girl with severely burned legs. In response to the attacks, Trump posted on social media, warning the Houthis that they must stop their assaults, particularly on shipping. He issued a stark ultimatum: “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!”
Trump also directed a sharp warning to Iran, the Houthis’ key supporter: “To Iran: Support for the Houthi terrorists must end IMMEDIATELY! Do NOT threaten the American People, their President… or Worldwide shipping lanes. If you do, BEWARE, because America will hold you fully accountable and, we won’t be nice about it!”
The Houthis, who have carried out numerous attacks on shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, vowed to retaliate, calling the US strikes a “criminal brutality.” Iran condemned the airstrikes as a violation of international law, with Iranian officials stressing their readiness to respond to any threats. Iran’s Revolutionary Guards commander, Hossein Salami, stated, “Iran will not wage war, but if anyone threatens, it will give appropriate, decisive, and conclusive responses.”
US Central Command described the airstrikes as “precision strikes” aimed at protecting American interests and ensuring the safety of global shipping. The Pentagon revealed that the Houthis had carried out 174 attacks on US warships and 145 on commercial vessels since 2023, putting significant pressure on vital maritime routes.
Hamas, the Palestinian group that has supported the Houthi cause, condemned the US action as a violation of international law and Yemen’s sovereignty. Russia, which has close ties to Iran, also weighed in, urging an end to the use of force and encouraging dialogue to prevent further escalation.
The Houthi rebels, who seized control of Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, in 2014, are part of the pro-Iran “axis of resistance” and have long been in conflict with a Saudi-led coalition. Despite a ceasefire in 2022, violence has persisted, particularly with the Houthis resuming attacks in response to the Gaza conflict. The Trump administration had previously re-designated the Houthis as a “foreign terrorist organization,” a move that further complicated efforts toward peace.
In a related development, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio engaged in talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, stressing that continued Houthi attacks on US and commercial ships would not be tolerated.
