Getty imagesThe United States has launched a wave of “decisive and powerful” air strikes on Houthi rebels in Yemen, said President Donald Trump, citing the armed group’s attacks on the Red Sea expedition.
“Funded by Iran, the hugs Houthi have pulled missiles on American planes and targeted our troops and our allies,” wrote Trump on his Truth social platform, adding that their “hacking, violence and terrorism” had cost “billions of dollars” and endangered.
The Ministry of Health managed by the Houthis said that at least 15 people had been killed and nine others injured in strikes.
The group – which began to target the expedition in response to the War of Israel -Hamas in Gaza – said that its forces would respond to American strikes.
The Houthis reported a series of explosions on Saturday evening in Sanaa and in the northern province of Saada – the bastion of rebels on the border with Saudi Arabia.
The rebellious group supported by Iran, which considers Israel its enemy, controls Sanaa and the North West of Yemen, but it is not the internationally recognized government of the country.
Non -verified images show black smoke plumes in the area of Sanaa airport – which includes a military installation.
In a statement, the Houthis blamed the United States and the United Kingdom for the “nasty” attack targeting the residential areas of the Yemenite capital, Sanaa-although it is understood that the United Kingdom did not participate in the American strikes on Saturday against the Houthi objectives, but it provided refueling support in the United States.
These attacks, said Trump, “will not be tolerated”.
He added: “We will use an overwhelming mortal force until we reached our goal.”
The Houthis said they were acting to support the Palestinians in the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, and often said – that they target ships only linked to Israel, the United States or the United Kingdom.
Since November 2023, the Houthis have targeted dozens of merchant ships with missiles, drones and small boat attacks in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. They sank two ships, entered a third and killed four crew members.
The group was not dissuaded by the deployment of Western warships to protect merchant ships, or by several cycles of American and British air strikes on its military targets.
Israel has also carried out air strikes against the Houthis since July in retaliation for the 400 missiles and drones which, according to the Israeli army, had been launched in the country from Yemen, most of which were killed.
Large sea companies have been forced to stop using the Red Sea – through which almost 15% of the world’s world trade is generally – and rather uses a much longer road in southern Africa.
Trump said it had been a ship struck by the United States for more than a year safely through the Suez Canal – to which the Red Sea was leading – and four months since an American warship had crossed water between East Africa and the Arab Peninsula.
The Suez Canal is the fastest seaway between Asia and Europe, and is particularly important in the transport of liquefied oil and natural gas (LNG).
Speaking directly to the Houthis, Trump wrote that if they did not stop, “Hell will rain on you as nothing you have ever seen before”.
But the Houthis were unwavering in their response, saying that the assault would not decede their support for the Palestinians.
“This attack will not be unanswered and our Yemeni armed forces are ready to respond to climbing with an additional escalation,” said the group.
Meanwhile, the American defense secretary Pete Hegseth said that the “benefactor” of Houthi, Iran, was “in opinion”.
The Houthis launched 190 attacks in the Red Sea between November 2023 and October 2024, according to the American Congress.
Previously, the United Kingdom and the United States led a joint naval and The air strikes against the group. Israel has also targeted sites related to Houthis in distinct strikes.
Trump urged Iran to stop supporting the Houthis, warning that Washington would hold Tehran “fully responsible and, we will not be nice about it.”
He also accused the previous administration of the White House, under Joe Biden, of being “pathetically weak” and of allowing the “without restraint Houthis” to continue.
