President Donald Trump launched a series of large-scale military strikes against Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels on Saturday in response to their persistent attacks on Red Sea shipping. Warning of further action, Trump declared that “hell will rain down” on the group if they did not cease their operations.
Trump also issued a stark warning to Iran, the Houthis’ primary supporter, demanding an immediate halt to its backing of the group. “If Iran threatens the United States, America will hold you fully accountable—and we won’t be nice about it!” he said.
The strikes, which a U.S. official said could continue for days or even weeks, mark the largest American military operation in the Middle East since Trump took office in January. They come amid escalating tensions between Washington and Tehran, as the U.S. intensifies sanctions to pressure Iran into negotiations over its nuclear program.
At least 13 civilians were reported killed and nine others injured in airstrikes on Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, according to the Houthi-run health ministry. In the northern province of Saada, a U.S. strike killed six people, including four children and a woman, and injured 11 others, as reported by Houthi-controlled Al-Masirah TV. The Houthis condemned the attacks as a “war crime” and vowed retaliation, stating, “Our Yemeni armed forces are fully prepared to respond to escalation with escalation.”
Residents in Sanaa described the strikes as devastating. “The explosions were violent and shook the neighborhood like an earthquake. They terrified our women and children,” said Abdullah Yahia, a local resident.
The Houthis, an armed movement that has seized control of much of Yemen over the past decade, have launched over 100 attacks on commercial and military ships since November 2023, severely disrupting global trade. They claim their actions are in solidarity with Palestinians amid Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza. The sustained attacks have forced the U.S. military into an expensive and prolonged campaign to intercept Houthi missiles and drones, straining its air defense systems.
Despite mounting international pressure, the Houthis have remained resilient, sinking two vessels, seizing another, and killing at least four seafarers. The offensive has forced major shipping firms to reroute their vessels, opting for longer and costlier journeys around Africa instead of using the Red Sea.
Under the previous administration, President Joe Biden sought to limit U.S. military engagement in Yemen. However, officials say Trump has taken a much more aggressive stance, authorizing broader strikes to degrade the Houthis’ military capabilities.
The airstrikes were carried out, in part, by fighter jets deployed from the aircraft carrier Harry S. Truman, stationed in the Red Sea. The U.S. Central Command, which oversees military operations in the Middle East, confirmed the offensive marked the beginning of a larger military campaign across Yemen. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth emphasized that Houthi aggression would not go unpunished, stating on X: “Houthi attacks on American ships, aircraft, and troops will not be tolerated; and Iran, their benefactor, is on notice. Freedom of navigation will be restored.”
Trump warned that the Houthis should expect even harsher military action if they continue their attacks. “The Houthi assault on American vessels will not be tolerated. We will use overwhelming lethal force until we achieve our objective,” he wrote.
The strikes come just days after Trump sent a letter to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei seeking negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program. Khamenei, however, rejected the overture, refusing any discussions with the United States.
Iran’s regional influence has been tested in recent months. Its allies, Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon, have suffered significant setbacks due to Israeli military action, and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad—once closely aligned with Tehran—was ousted by rebels in December. Despite these losses, the Houthis have remained a formidable force, maintaining their offensive stance in the Red Sea.
Meanwhile, Iran continues to advance its nuclear program. The U.N.’s International Atomic Energy Agency has warned that Tehran is enriching uranium at levels approaching weapons-grade purity. While Iran insists its nuclear activities are peaceful, Western nations argue that no other country has enriched uranium to such high levels without producing nuclear weapons.
As the situation in the Middle East grows increasingly volatile, the long-term impact of Trump’s military escalation in Yemen remains uncertain. However, with tensions reaching a boiling point, further conflict in the region appears all but inevitable.
