President Donald Trump ordered a series of airstrikes on Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, on Saturday, vowing to deploy “overwhelming lethal force” until Iranian-backed Houthi rebels cease their attacks on commercial shipping in a key maritime corridor. Houthi officials reported that nine civilians were killed in the strikes.
“Our brave warfighters are right now carrying out aerial attacks on the terrorists’ bases, leaders, and missile defenses to protect American shipping, air, and naval assets, and to restore Navigational Freedom,” Trump said in a social media statement. “No terrorist force will stop American commercial and naval vessels from freely sailing the waterways of the world.”
Trump also warned Iran to cease its support for the Houthis, pledging to hold Tehran “fully accountable” for its proxy’s actions. This comes two weeks after the president sent a letter to Iranian leaders offering a potential path to renewing negotiations over Iran’s nuclear weapons program, which Trump has vowed to prevent from becoming operational.
The Houthis reported a series of powerful explosions across their territory. Images circulating online showed plumes of black smoke rising over the Sanaa airport complex, which houses a major military facility.
At least nine people were killed, and another nine were injured, according to Anees al-Asbahi, spokesperson for the Houthi-controlled health ministry. In response to the strikes, Nasruddin Amer, deputy head of the Houthi media office, stated that the group would not be deterred and vowed retaliation against the United States.
“Sanaa will remain Gaza’s shield and support, and we will not abandon it no matter the challenges,” Amer declared on social media.
The strikes come just days after the Houthis threatened to resume attacks on Israeli vessels in response to Israel’s blockade of Gaza. There have been no reported Houthi attacks since that warning.
Between late 2023 and early 2024, the Houthis targeted over 100 merchant vessels using missiles and drones, sinking two ships and killing four sailors. Their attacks have heightened regional tensions and raised their international profile while Yemen remains mired in a decade-long conflict.
The Houthi media office claimed that the U.S. strikes hit “a residential neighborhood” in Sanaa’s northern district of Shouab. Local residents described the blasts as powerful, shaking buildings and terrifying civilians.
“The explosions were very strong,” said Sanaa resident Abdallah al-Alffi. “It felt like an earthquake.”
The U.S. airstrikes were carried out solely by American forces, according to a U.S. official. Unlike previous joint operations involving the United States, Israel, and Britain, Saturday’s strikes mark the first U.S. attack on Houthi targets since Trump’s second term began.
The USS Harry S. Truman carrier strike group, which includes the aircraft carrier, three Navy destroyers, and a cruiser, was deployed in the Red Sea to support the mission. The USS Georgia cruise missile submarine has also been active in the region.
Trump, who announced the strikes while at his Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida, framed the operation as a necessary response to economic and security threats.
“These relentless assaults have cost the U.S. and world economy many billions of dollars while, at the same time, putting innocent lives at risk,” Trump said.
As tensions escalate, analysts warn of potential further conflict between the U.S. and Iran-backed forces in the region. The international community is now closely watching for possible retaliation from the Houthis and the broader implications for Middle Eastern stability.
AP
