WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. —
On Saturday, President Donald Trump announced the initiation of a series of airstrikes aimed at the Yemeni capital, Sanaa. He pledged to employ “overwhelming lethal force” until the Iranian-aligned Houthi rebels cease their attacks on vital shipping lanes essential for global trade.
In a statement shared via social media, Trump asserted, “Our brave Warfighters are currently executing targeted airstrikes against the operational bases, leadership, and missile systems of these terrorists to protect American maritime, aerial, and naval interests, while ensuring Freedom of Navigation.” He emphasized that “No terrorist group will obstruct American commercial and naval vessels from freely navigating the World’s Waters.”
The President also sent a pointed message to Iran, urging an end to their support for the Houthi faction, while vowing to hold the country “fully accountable” for its proxies’ actions. This announcement follows a communication sent to Iranian officials two weeks earlier, proposing a potential avenue for resuming discussions regarding Iran’s advancing nuclear program, which Trump is determined to thwart from becoming operational.
Reports from Houthi sources indicated a series of explosions in their territory on Saturday evening. Eyewitness accounts and social media images showed thick black smoke rising from the area surrounding the Sanaa airport complex, known to house significant military assets.
The airstrikes followed an announcement by the Houthis expressing their intent to renew attacks on Israeli vessels in the waters off Yemen, citing retaliation for Israel’s blockade on Gaza. Nonetheless, there have been no reports of Houthi attacks since that proclamation.
Earlier this month, Israel halted all humanitarian aid to Gaza and warned of “additional consequences” for Hamas if the fragile truce in the ongoing conflict is not extended, as negotiations for a second phase are still underway.
The Houthis had previously indicated their plans to broaden their operations across the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, Bab el-Mandeb Strait, and Arabian Sea.
Since the onset of the Israel-Hamas conflict in late 2023 and the subsequent ceasefire in January, the Houthis have targeted over 100 merchant vessels with missiles and drones, leading to the sinking of two vessels and resulting in four sailor fatalities.
These actions significantly heightened the Houthis’ visibility amidst local economic struggles and intensified crackdowns on dissent and humanitarian workers in Yemen, a country already suffering from prolonged conflict and severe poverty.
The United States, Israel, and the United Kingdom have previously conducted operations targeting Houthi-controlled regions in Yemen. However, Israel’s military has refrained from commenting on the recent developments.
According to the Houthi media office, the U.S. strikes affected “a residential area” in the northern Shouab district of Sanaa. Local residents recounted that at least four airstrikes rattled the Eastern Geraf neighborhood, triggering panic among families.
“The explosions were incredibly powerful,” said Abdallah al-Alffi. “It felt like an earthquake.”
A U.S. official confirmed that the operations against the Houthis were carried out solely by American forces. This marks the first airstrike on the Houthi group during Trump’s second term and follows a period of relative calm in the region.
Previous extensive missile strikes against the Houthis occurred multiple times during the Biden administration in response to their ongoing attacks on commercial and military ships.
The USS Harry S. Truman carrier strike group, which includes the aircraft carrier, three Navy destroyers, and one cruiser, is currently deployed in the Red Sea as part of this mission, in addition to the USS Georgia cruise missile submarine that has been operating in the region.
Trump made the announcement regarding the airstrikes while spending the day at his Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida.
“These ongoing attacks have led to significant financial losses for both the U.S. and the global economy, amounting to billions of dollars, while putting innocent lives at risk,” Trump remarked.
—Reporting from Washington by Baldor and from Cairo by Magdy. Contributions from AP White House Correspondent Zeke Miller from Washington.
