The US President, Donald Trump, stated on Saturday that he ordered a series of airstrikes in Sana’a, the capital of Yemen, and promised to use “overwhelming lethal force” until the Houthi rebels, backed by Iran, cease their attacks on navigation along a vital maritime corridor. The Houthis said that nine civilians were killed.
“Our brave fighters are carrying out airstrikes against the bases, leaders, and missile defenses of the terrorists to protect the navigation, airspace, and naval assets of the United States, and to restore freedom of navigation,” Trump said in a social media post. “No terrorist force will prevent American commercial and naval ships from sailing freely through the world’s waterways.”
He also warned Iran to stop its support for the rebel group and promised that the country will be held “fully” accountable for the actions of its representative. This comes two weeks after the US leader sent a letter to Iranian leaders offering a path to restart bilateral talks between the countries on Iran’s nuclear weapons program, which Trump said he will not allow to become operational, according to his own statements.
The Houthis reported a series of explosions in their territory on Saturday night. Images circulating on the internet showed columns of black smoke over the area of the Saná airport, which includes an extensive military installation.
At least nine people died, said Anees al-Asbahi, spokesperson for the health ministry run by the Houthis. In a statement on social media, he pointed out that nine others were injured.
Nasruddin Amer, deputy director of the Houthi media office, said that the airstrikes will not deter them and that they will retaliate against the United States. “Sana’a will continue to be the shield and support of Gaza and will not abandon it regardless of the challenges,” he added on social media.
The airstrikes come a few days after the Houthis announced they would resume attacks against Israeli ships sailing in waters off Yemen in response to Israel’s blockade on Gaza. No attacks from the group have been reported since then.
Earlier this month, Israel halted all aid entering Gaza and warned of “additional consequences” for Hamas if their fragile ceasefire in the war is not extended while negotiations continue on the start of a second phase.
The Houthis said that their warning extended to the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, and the Arabian Sea.
Between the start of the war between Israel and Hamas, in late 2023, and January of this year, when a fragile ceasefire came into effect in Gaza, the Houthis attacked more than 100 merchant ships with missiles and drones, sinking two vessels and causing the death of four sailors during their campaign against military and civilian ships.
The attacks raised the profile of the Houthis as they faced economic problems and launched a crackdown against dissent and humanitarian workers in the country amid the stalled war in Yemen, which has lasted for a decade and has devastated the poorest nation in the Arab world.
The Houthi media office said that the American attacks hit “a residential neighborhood” in the northern district of Shouab, in Sanaa. Residents of that city said that at least four airstrikes shook the neighborhood of Eastern Geraf, in the Shouab district, terrorizing women and children in the area.
“The explosions were very strong,” said Abdallah al-Alffi. “It was like an earthquake.”
The United States, Israel, and the United Kingdom have previously attacked areas controlled by the Houthi rebels in Yemen. The Israeli military refused to comment.
The Saturday operation against the Houthis was carried out solely by the United States, according to a U.S. official. It was the first attack against the group during the Trump administration, and it comes after a period of relative calm in the region.
The Biden administration carried out many pre-planned, wide-ranging missile attacks against the group in response to their frequent attacks on commercial and military vessels in the region.
The USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier strike group, consisting of the aircraft carrier, three Navy destroyers, and a cruiser, is in the Red Sea and took part in the mission. The USS Georgia cruise missile submarine has also operated in the region.
Trump announced the attacks while spending the day at his Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida.
“These relentless attacks have cost the economy of the United States and the world billions of dollars, while at the same time putting innocent lives at risk,” said the president.