US President Donald Trump has launched large-scale military strikes against Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi rebels, killing at least 19 people, including civilians. The operation, described as the most significant US military action in the Middle East since Trump took office, comes in response to the Houthis’ repeated attacks on Red Sea shipping, which have disrupted global commerce.
Trump warned the Houthis that "hell will rain down" if they continue their assaults and cautioned Iran, the group’s primary backer, to cease its support immediately. "If Iran threatens the United States, America will hold you fully accountable, and we won’t be nice about it," he stated.
The strikes, which officials say could last for days or weeks, targeted Houthi strongholds in Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, and the northern province of Saada. According to Houthi-run media, 13 civilians were killed in Sanaa, while six others, including four children and a woman, died in Saada. The Houthis condemned the attacks as a "war crime" and vowed to retaliate with equal force.
The Houthis, who control much of Yemen, have carried out over 100 attacks on shipping since November 2023, sinking vessels, killing seafarers, and forcing companies to reroute ships around southern Africa. They claim their actions are in solidarity with Palestinians amid Israel’s conflict with Hamas in Gaza.
The US military’s Central Command described the strikes as the beginning of a broader operation across Yemen. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth emphasized that "freedom of navigation will be restored," while Trump warned of "overwhelming lethal force" if the Houthis persist.
The strikes follow Trump’s recent letter to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, seeking talks over Iran’s nuclear program. Khamenei rejected negotiations, but Tehran faces growing domestic unrest over economic hardships. The US has also expressed concerns over Iran’s accelerated uranium enrichment, which the UN warns is nearing weapons-grade levels.
As tensions escalate, the conflict in Yemen underscores the complex geopolitical dynamics in the Middle East, with the US taking a more aggressive stance under Trump’s leadership.
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