The U.S. unleashed a barrage of military strikes across Yemen on Saturday, killing at least 24 people and marking the first major operation against the Iran-backed Houthi rebels under President Donald Trump’s second term. With the death toll climbing and tensions soaring, Trump delivered a fiery warning to the Houthis and their benefactor, Iran, signaling a no-holds-barred approach to securing the Red Sea. Here’s the latest on this escalating conflict.
Devastation in Yemen
The strikes hit hard, with at least 13 civilians reportedly killed in Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, according to the Houthi-run health ministry. Up north in Saada, a rebel stronghold, 11 more perished—including four children and a woman—bringing the total to at least 24. Locals described chaos: “The explosions shook the ground like an earthquake, terrifying our families,” one Sanaa resident told Reuters. Plumes of smoke rose over the city’s airport complex, a key military hub, as the U.S. flexed its might.
Trump’s War Cry
President Trump didn’t mince words. “To all Houthi terrorists, YOUR TIME IS UP, AND YOUR ATTACKS MUST STOP, STARTING TODAY,” he blasted on social media. “If they don’t, HELL WILL RAIN DOWN UPON YOU LIKE NOTHING YOU HAVE EVER SEEN BEFORE!” He pinned the operation on the Houthis’ relentless assaults on Red Sea shipping, vowing “overwhelming lethal force” until the threat ends. The strikes, launched from the USS Harry S. Truman carrier group in the Red Sea, targeted Houthi radars, missile sites, and drone bases—a clear bid to choke their maritime attacks.
Trump also turned his sights on Iran, the Houthis’ main backer. “Support for the Houthi terrorists must end IMMEDIATELY!” he warned Tehran. “Do NOT threaten the American People… or worldwide shipping lanes. If you do, BEWARE, because America will hold you fully accountable—and we won’t be nice about it!” The message came days after a letter to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, where Trump pushed for nuclear talks—a plea Khamenei shot down earlier this week.
Houthis Strike Back—Verbally
The Houthis aren’t backing down. Their political bureau branded the strikes a “war crime” and promised retaliation. “Our Yemeni armed forces are fully prepared to respond to escalation with escalation,” they declared, framing the U.S. action as an assault on civilians. The group’s defiance isn’t new—since the Israel-Hamas war flared in October 2023, they’ve hit over 100 ships, sinking two and killing four sailors, all in solidarity with Palestinians. This week, they threatened to resume attacks on Israeli-linked vessels after a Gaza ceasefire unraveled, a move that likely triggered Trump’s hammer drop.
Iran’s Defiant Stand
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi fired back on X: “The U.S. has no authority, or business, dictating Iranian foreign policy.” He flipped the script, accusing America of fueling “Israeli genocide” and demanded an end to “killing Yemenis.” Tehran’s support—arms, cash, and training—has kept the Houthis in the fight, though U.S. officials say the rebels don’t always toe Iran’s line. With Tehran’s allies like Hamas and Hezbollah weakened, the Houthis remain a stubborn thorn in the region’s side.
Why Now?
The Houthis have been a shipping nightmare, attacking U.S. warships 174 times and commercial vessels 145 times since 2023, per Pentagon stats. Their campaign has slashed Suez Canal traffic, jacking up global trade costs as ships detour around Africa. Trump’s team, fresh off reclassifying the Houthis as a “foreign terrorist organization” this month, sees the strikes as a lifeline to restore “freedom of navigation.” Unlike Biden’s restrained approach, which failed to curb the rebels, Trump’s betting on shock and awe—though analysts warn it might not tame a group that’s thrived under bombardment before.
What’s Next?
The U.S. says this is just the start—strikes could stretch for days, maybe weeks, depending on how the Houthis hit back. Residents in Sanaa brace for more as the rebels hint at counterstrikes, possibly targeting U.S. assets in the Red Sea. Iran’s next move is a wild card—will it double down or pull back under Trump’s threats? For now, Yemen’s a powder keg, and the world’s watching to see if Trump’s “lethal force” gamble pays off—or lights a bigger fuse.
