US Launches "Decisive and Powerful" Strikes on Houthi Rebels in Yemen; 31 Killed, 100 Injured

President Donald Trump has announced a "decisive and powerful" wave of US air strikes targeting Houthi rebels in Yemen, citing the group’s repeated attacks on shipping in the Red Sea as the justification. The strikes, which took place on Saturday, have reportedly killed at least 31 people and injured 101 others, according to the Houthi-run health ministry.

In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump accused the Iran-backed Houthis of "piracy, violence, and terrorism," claiming their actions have cost "billions of dollars" and endangered lives. "Funded by Iran, the Houthi thugs have fired missiles at US aircraft, and targeted our Troops and Allies," he wrote.

The Houthis, who control much of northern Yemen including the capital, Sanaa, have been targeting commercial and military vessels in the Red Sea since November 2023 in what they describe as a show of solidarity with Palestinians amid the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza. The group has claimed—often falsely—that their attacks are directed only at ships linked to Israel, the US, or the UK.

Unverified images from Sanaa show plumes of black smoke rising near the city’s airport, which includes a military facility. The Houthis condemned the US and UK for what they called "wicked" aggression targeting residential areas in Sanaa. While the UK did not participate in Saturday’s strikes, it provided routine refuelling support for US operations.

President Trump vowed that the attacks on shipping "will not be tolerated" and warned of further action. "We will use overwhelming lethal force until we have achieved our objective," he said, addressing the Houthis directly: "If you do not stop, HELL WILL RAIN DOWN UPON YOU LIKE NOTHING YOU HAVE EVER SEEN BEFORE."

The Houthis, however, remained defiant, promising to respond with "further escalation." In a statement, the group said, "This aggression will not go without response, and our Yemeni armed forces are ready to answer escalation with further escalation."

The Red Sea crisis has disrupted global trade, with major shipping companies avoiding the route—which handles nearly 15% of global seaborne trade—and opting for a longer journey around southern Africa. Trump noted that it has been over a year since a US-flagged ship safely traversed the Suez Canal, which connects to the Red Sea.

The conflict has also drawn international attention, with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio discussing military deterrence efforts with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Saturday. Rubio emphasized that "continued Houthi attacks on US military and commercial shipping vessels in the Red Sea will not be tolerated," while Lavrov called for an immediate cessation of force and urged political dialogue to prevent further bloodshed.

Iran, which supports the Houthis, condemned the US strikes. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi accused Washington of having "no authority, or business, dictating Iranian foreign policy" and called for an end to "Israeli genocide and terrorism."

Trump also criticized the previous Biden administration, accusing it of being "pathetically weak" and allowing the Houthis to operate "unrestrained." He warned Iran to cease its support for the group, stating that Washington would hold Tehran "fully accountable—and we won’t be nice about it."

The Houthis have launched nearly 190 attacks in the Red Sea between November 2023 and October 2024, according to the US Congress. Despite repeated US and UK strikes, the group has shown no signs of backing down, continuing to target ships and escalate tensions in the region.