Washington, D.C.: The White House has confirmed that multiple Houthi leaders were killed in a series of US airstrikes in Yemen on Saturday, marking a significant escalation in tensions between the United States, the Iran-backed Houthi rebels, and Tehran. National Security Adviser Michael Waltz announced that the strikes had “successfully targeted multiple Houthi leaders and took them out,” adding that Washington had delivered a clear message to Iran. “We just hit them with overwhelming force and put Iran on notice that enough is enough,” Waltz said during an interview on Fox News.
US Strikes Kill 31, Injure Over 100 in Yemen
According to the Houthi-controlled health ministry, the strikes killed at least 31 people and injured 101 others. The airstrikes were the first against Houthi rebels since President Donald Trump returned to office. The White House stated that the operation was conducted in response to the Houthis’ continued attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.
The Houthis have claimed that their attacks are in protest against Israel’s military campaign in Gaza. Since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war, which began on October 7, 2023, following Hamas’ attack on Israel, the Houthis have launched numerous drone and missile strikes on shipping routes.
The US Department of Defense reported that since 2023, American warships have been targeted 174 times, and commercial vessels have faced 145 attacks, jeopardizing a crucial maritime route that facilitates around 12% of global trade.
Trump Issues Direct Warning to Houthis and Iran
Following the airstrikes, President Trump issued a strong warning to the Houthi leadership and Iran. In a statement on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump wrote:
“YOUR ATTACKS MUST STOP, STARTING TODAY. IF THEY DON’T, HELL WILL RAIN DOWN UPON YOU LIKE NOTHING YOU HAVE EVER SEEN BEFORE!”
Trump’s statement underscores the seriousness of the US response to the ongoing Houthi attacks and Iran’s backing of the rebel group. The strikes highlight the growing military engagement of the US in the Middle East amid rising regional instability.
US-Iran Tensions Over Nuclear Programme
The latest escalation comes against the backdrop of renewed tensions between the US and Iran over Tehran’s nuclear ambitions. Last month, President Trump sent a letter to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei proposing new nuclear negotiations. Trump warned that failure to reach an agreement could lead to military action.
Tehran rejected the proposal, stating it would not engage in talks under the threat of force. Waltz reiterated the US position, saying:
“Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon. All options are on the table to ensure it does not have one. They can either hand it over and give it up in a way that is verifiable, or they can face a whole series of other consequences.”
Implications for Global Security
The Houthi attacks on shipping in the Red Sea have already disrupted global supply chains and increased insurance costs for maritime trade. The latest US strikes are expected to further strain diplomatic relations and could provoke retaliation from the Houthis and their Iranian backers.
As tensions in the Middle East continue to escalate, the Biden administration’s next moves could have far-reaching consequences for both regional and global security.
