U.S. President Donald Trump initiated extensive military strikes against the Iran-aligned Houthis in Yemen on Saturday, marking the start of a prolonged campaign in response to the group’s ongoing attacks on Red Sea shipping. At least 31 people were killed, with many others wounded, in an operation that is expected to last several days.
Trump also issued a stark warning to Iran, the Houthis’ key backer, demanding that Tehran immediately cease its support for the group. He declared, “If you threaten America, we will hold you fully accountable, and we won’t be nice about it.”
In response, Iran’s top military commander, Hossein Salami, downplayed any direct control over the Houthis, emphasizing their independence in strategic decisions. Salami also warned that Iran would take “decisive and destructive” action if the U.S. escalated the situation.
The strikes, described as the largest U.S. military operation in the Middle East under Trump’s administration, also coincide with increasing U.S. sanctions on Iran and efforts to bring Tehran back to the negotiating table over its nuclear program.
The Houthis’ political office condemned the airstrikes as a “war crime,” pledging retaliation. A number of airstrikes targeted key Houthi locations in the capital, Sanaa, and other areas, including military sites in Taiz and a power station in Saada, which caused a widespread power outage.
The U.S. operation follows a series of Houthi attacks on commercial vessels, including U.S. warships, since November 2023. The Houthis have launched these attacks in protest of the war in Gaza, aligning themselves with Palestinian interests. U.S. officials say Trump’s authorization represents a more aggressive stance than previous administrations.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reinforced the U.S. position, stating, “Houthi attacks on American ships and aircraft will not be tolerated; and Iran, their benefactor, is on notice.” Meanwhile, Iranian officials condemned the strikes, calling them a violation of international law.
Tensions in the region have escalated as the Houthis announced plans to resume attacks on Israeli ships in the Red Sea. This comes just days after Trump sent a letter to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei seeking dialogue on Iran’s nuclear program, which Khamenei rejected.
In an apparent diplomatic gesture, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio informed Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov about the strikes, as Russia continues to rely on Iranian weapons in its war against Ukraine.