U.S. President Donald Trump has ordered large-scale military strikes against Yemen’s Houthi forces marking the most significant U.S. military operation in the region since he took office in January.
Fighter jets launched from U.S. aircraft carriers carried out the initial wave of attacks on Saturday night, local time, with U.S. officials indicating the campaign could last for weeks.
The strikes, according to U.S. sources, targeted Houthi rebels military positions in multiple Yemeni cities, including Sanaa and Taiz, as well as a power station in Saada, where Houthi leader Abdul Malik al-Houthi is known to meet visitors.
At least 31 people were killed and over 100 injured, according to the Houthi-run health ministry. The group’s political bureau denounced the attacks as a "war crime," vowing to respond with further escalation. Residents in Sanaa reported violent explosions shaking neighborhoods, while Pentagon sources confirmed that the Houthis have carried out 174 attacks on U.S. warships and 145 assaults on commercial vessels since 2023.
Trump defended the strikes as necessary to restore freedom of navigation, accusing the Houthis of "choking" international trade by disrupting routes through the Red Sea, Suez Canal, and Gulf of Aden.
He pledged to use "overwhelming lethal force" until U.S. objectives were met. Iran, the Houthis’ main backer, was directly warned by Trump to cease its support or face severe consequences.
The strikes come amid broader geopolitical tensions, with Washington increasing pressure on Tehran while simultaneously seeking diplomatic engagement on Iran’s nuclear program.
As the conflict escalates, Trump’s actions stand in contrast to his inaugural pledge to end wars and restore peace. While he has championed military strength as a deterrent, the latest developments mark a significant expansion of U.S. military involvement in the Middle East. The White House has not ruled out further strikes, with U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stating that "Houthi attacks on American ships and aircraft will not be tolerated."