Trump Orders Airstrikes on Yemen, Citing Houthi Attacks on Shipping

President Donald Trump ordered a series of airstrikes on Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, targeting sites controlled by Iran-backed Houthi rebels. The strikes, conducted by the U.S. military, aimed to protect American shipping, air, and naval assets, and to restore navigational freedom in the Red Sea. Trump emphasized that the U.S. would use "overwhelming lethal force" until the Houthis cease their attacks on shipping along the vital maritime corridor.

The airstrikes came in response to the Houthis' campaign targeting military and civilian ships, which had resulted in the sinking of two vessels and the deaths of four sailors. The Houthis had previously warned of taking hold in the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, and the Arabian Sea, raising their profile amid economic problems and a crackdown on dissent and aid workers in Yemen.

Trump also issued a stern warning to Iran, demanding that it immediately halt its support for the Houthi rebels. He promised to hold Iran "fully accountable" for the actions of its proxy. This warning came two weeks after Trump sent a letter to Iranian leaders offering a path to restarting bilateral talks on Iran’s advancing nuclear weapons program.

The Houthis reported a series of explosions in their territory, with images circulating online showing plumes of black smoke over the area of the Sanaa airport complex. At least nine people were killed, and another nine were wounded, according to the Houthi-run health ministry. The Houthis vowed to retaliate against the U.S., stating that Sanaa would remain a shield and support for Gaza.

The airstrikes were conducted solely by the U.S., marking the first strike on the Yemen-based Houthis under the second Trump administration. The operation involved the USS Harry S. Truman carrier strike group, which includes the carrier, three Navy destroyers, and one cruiser, as well as the USS Georgia cruise missile submarine.

Trump announced the strikes while spending the day at his Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida. He highlighted the economic impact of the Houthis' assaults, stating that they had cost the U.S. and the world economy many billions of dollars while putting innocent lives at risk.

The airstrikes come at a time when the Houthis had threatened to resume attacks on Israeli vessels sailing in waters off Yemen in response to Israel’s blockade on Gaza. Earlier this month, Israel halted all aid coming into Gaza and warned of additional consequences for Hamas if their fragile ceasefire in the war wasn’t extended as negotiations continued over starting a second phase.

The U.S. has previously conducted operations against Houthi-held areas in Yemen, with the Biden administration carrying out broad-based and pre-planned missile strikes in response to frequent attacks by the Houthis against commercial and military vessels in the region. The recent airstrikes by the Trump administration signal a continuation of this strategy, aimed at deterring the Houthis and protecting vital maritime corridors.