Trump Reacts as U.S. Strikes Kill 21 Houthis in Yemen

The Houthis, who have launched attacks on Israel and Red Sea shipping during the Gaza war, claimed that the intense barrage of U.S. airstrikes resulted in civilian casualties, including children.

The first U.S. airstrikes against Yemen’s Houthi rebels since President Donald Trump took office in January have killed at least 21 people, according to the group, as Washington issues a stern warning to Iran to cease its support for the militants.

The Houthis, who have repeatedly targeted Israeli interests and disrupted Red Sea shipping during the ongoing Gaza war, claimed that the latest attacks resulted in civilian casualties, including children.

Deadly Strikes and Growing Conflict

An AFP journalist in Yemen’s rebel-controlled capital, Sanaa, reported hearing three loud explosions, with thick plumes of smoke rising from a residential area. The strikes also targeted the northern Saada region, a known Houthi stronghold.

According to the Houthi-controlled Saba news agency, at least nine civilians were killed and nine others wounded in Sanaa. Meanwhile, Houthi-run media outlet Ansarollah reported that an attack in Saada killed at least ten people and left several others injured. Another strike in Saada’s Alshaaf district resulted in two more deaths.

The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) released images of fighter jets launching from an aircraft carrier and a precision strike demolishing a compound. It justified the strikes as necessary to “defend American interests, deter enemies, and restore freedom of navigation” in the Red Sea.

So far, the United Kingdom has not issued an official response regarding its involvement in the operation.

Trump’s Warning: 'Hell Will Rain Down'

President Trump took to social media to reaffirm his commitment to countering Houthi aggression, stating that the U.S. would deploy “overwhelming lethal force” until its objectives were achieved. He emphasized the threats posed by the Houthis to commercial shipping and signaled an uncompromising stance against further attacks.

The Houthis responded defiantly, vowing retaliation.

“Our Yemeni armed forces are fully prepared to confront escalation with escalation,” the group’s political bureau declared on the Al-Masirah TV network.

Trump also directly warned Iran, demanding that it “immediately” cease its support for the Houthis. The group, which has controlled much of Yemen for over a decade, is aligned with Iran and forms part of the "axis of resistance"—a coalition of Tehran-backed militias opposing Israel and the United States.

Houthi Attacks on Global Trade Routes

Throughout the Gaza war, the Houthis have launched numerous missile and drone attacks on commercial vessels traversing the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, citing their solidarity with the Palestinians.

Their sustained assaults have crippled one of the world’s most critical trade arteries, which typically handles 12% of global maritime traffic. Many shipping companies have been forced to reroute vessels around Africa, significantly increasing costs and transit times.

The U.S. strikes drew condemnation from Hamas, which called them a “stark violation of international law” and an attack on Yemen’s sovereignty.

Rising U.S. Military Action in Yemen

The United States, sometimes with British support, has conducted multiple rounds of airstrikes targeting Houthi military infrastructure.

The latest escalation follows a brief pause in hostilities after a ceasefire took effect in Gaza in January. However, on March 12, the Houthis declared they would resume attacks unless Israel fully lifted restrictions on humanitarian aid entering Gaza.

While President Trump’s statement did not directly reference the Israel-Gaza conflict, he made clear that the Houthis’ targeting of commercial vessels would not be tolerated.

“To all Houthi terrorists, YOUR TIME IS UP, AND YOUR ATTACKS MUST STOP, STARTING TODAY,” he warned. “If they don’t, hell will rain down upon you like nothing you have ever seen before!”

He further cautioned:

“Do NOT threaten the American people, their President… or worldwide shipping lanes. If you do, BEWARE, because America will hold you fully accountable—and we won’t be nice about it!”

Houthis Reclassified as a Terrorist Organization

Earlier this month, the United States officially reclassified the Houthis as a "foreign terrorist organization", reinstating a designation that had been removed in 2021. The move bans U.S. entities from engaging with the group and strengthens financial restrictions.

According to Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell, since 2023, the Houthis have carried out:

• 174 attacks on U.S. warships, and
• 145 attacks on commercial vessels.

The conflict in Yemen has been ongoing since the Houthis seized control of Sanaa in 2014 and were on the verge of overrunning the country before a Saudi-led military coalition intervened.

While a ceasefire in 2022 significantly reduced hostilities, peace negotiations have since stalled, largely due to the Houthis’ attacks on Israel-linked vessels and their continued military campaigns in the region.

As tensions escalate, the future of U.S. involvement in Yemen remains uncertain, with both sides signaling further confrontations on the horizon.

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Source: NDTV