The United States has launched a series of air strikes targeting Houthi rebels in Yemen, described by President Donald Trump as “decisive and powerful.”
The strikes were reportedly in response to the group’s attacks on shipping in the Red Sea, BBC reports.
The Houthi-run health ministry reported casualties, with at least 31 people killed and 101 injured in the strikes. The group, which controls Sanaa and northwestern Yemen but is not the internationally recognised government, stated that it would retaliate against the US actions.
Explosions were reported in Sanaa and Saada, the Houthis’ stronghold near the Saudi border.
Unverified images showed black smoke rising near Sanaa’s airport, which includes a military facility. The Houthis accused the US and UK of aggression targeting residential areas, though the UK did not participate in the strikes, providing only routine refueling support.
President Trump emphasised that such attacks on shipping in the Red Sea “will not be tolerated” and vowed to use “overwhelming lethal force” to achieve US objectives.
Meanwhile, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi criticised the US actions, calling for an end to support for “Israeli genocide and terrorism” and the killing of Yemeni people.
The Houthis, claiming to act in support of Palestinians amid the Israel-Hamas conflict, have targeted merchant vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden since November 2023.
Despite Western military deployments and air strikes, the group has continued its attacks, disrupting global trade routes and forcing shipping companies to reroute around southern Africa.
The Suez Canal, a critical passage for global trade, has been largely avoided by US-flagged ships due to security concerns. Trump warned the Houthis of severe consequences if their actions persisted, while the group remained defiant, pledging further escalation in response to aggression.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio discussed the situation with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, emphasising that Houthi attacks on US and commercial vessels would not be tolerated.
Lavrov called for an immediate cessation of violence and urged political dialogue to prevent further bloodshed.
