NEW DELHI: In a dramatic escalation, U.S. President Donald Trump authorized large-scale military strikes against Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels on Saturday. The operation, described as the most significant U.S. military action in the Middle East since Trump’s return to office, was launched in response to Houthi attacks on Red Sea shipping routes. According to initial reports, at least 31 people, including civilians, were killed as airstrikes hit Houthi strongholds in Sanaa, Saada, and other provinces.
Trump took a hardline stance against the Houthis, issuing a fiery warning on his Truth Social platform. “To all Houthi terrorists, YOUR TIME IS UP, AND YOUR ATTACKS MUST STOP, STARTING TODAY. IF THEY DON’T, HELL WILL RAIN DOWN UPON YOU LIKE NOTHING YOU HAVE EVER SEEN BEFORE!” He also pointed the finger at Iran, the Houthis’ primary backer, cautioning, “America will hold you fully accountable, and we won’t be nice about it!”
“To all Houthi terrorists, YOUR TIME IS UP…” –President Donald J. Trump pic.twitter.com/P4qwgyDs8c
— President Donald J. Trump (@POTUS) March 15, 2025
The Houthis have been accused of disrupting global commerce, targeting over 100 merchant vessels with missiles and drones since late 2023. U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth underscored the stakes, stating on X, “Houthi attacks on American ships & aircraft (and our troops!) will not be tolerated; and Iran, their benefactor, is on notice. Freedom of Navigation will be restored.”
CENTCOM operations against Iran-backed Houthis continue… pic.twitter.com/DYvc3gREN8
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) March 15, 2025
In a swift and fiery response, the Houthis condemned the strikes as “war crimes” and vowed retaliation. “Our Yemeni armed forces are fully prepared to respond to escalation with escalation,” the group’s political bureau declared. Residents in affected areas, such as Sanaa, reported violent explosions shaking their neighborhoods. “The explosions terrified our women and children,” said Abdullah Yahia, a local resident, who described the scene as devastating.
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Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi criticized the U.S. operation, accusing Washington of supporting “genocide and terrorism” while dictating foreign policy to Tehran. He responded defiantly on social media, stating, “End support for Israeli genocide and terrorism. Stop killing of Yemeni people.”
Saturday’s strikes represent the first direct U.S. assault on Houthi-held areas under Trump’s second administration. U.S. Central Command emphasized the scale of the operation, describing it as the start of a broader campaign to dismantle Houthi military capabilities and restore security to vital shipping lanes.
As the Houthis remain defiant, claiming their actions are in solidarity with Palestine, the situation in Yemen marks a flashpoint in a region already engulfed in turmoil. Trump’s aggressive strategy signals a shift from limited U.S. action in recent years, putting Tehran and its proxies on high alert as tensions escalate.
