U.S. launches multiple strikes against Houthi targets as Trump issues warning
The U.S. launched strikes Saturday in Yemen as President Trump said the U.S. would use “overwhelming lethal force” until Houthis cease shipping attacks.
“Today, I have ordered the United States Military to launch decisive and powerful Military action against the Houthi terrorists in Yemen. They have waged an unrelenting campaign of piracy, violence, and terrorism against American, and other, ships, aircraft, and drones,” Mr. Trump wrote on social media. “The Houthi attack on American vessels will not be tolerated. We will use overwhelming lethal force until we have achieved our objective.”
He said the relentless assaults have cost the U.S. and global economy billions of dollars while putting innocent lives at risk. He also added that “your attacks must stop, starting today.”
U.S. Central Command confirmed the strike in a social media post Saturday that includes a video of a fighter jet taking off from an aircraft carrier.Â
A U.S. official confirmed the strikes to CBS News Saturday and said the reports of strikes in Sana’a are just the start, according to the official. U.S. Central Command is prepared to extend the campaign on the Houthis from the air and the sea for potentially weeks depending on how the Houthis and/or Iran react, per a U.S. official and a source with knowledge.
At least 13 people were killed, and another nine were wounded as a result of the strikes, according to the Associated Press.
Osamah Abdulrahman / AP 
The strikes come days after Houthi rebels said earlier this week that they would resume attacks on Israeli ships in response to Israel’s blockage of aid to Gaza.Â
The Houthis, operating out of Yemen, have been backed, supplied and trained by Iran for years. After Hamas launched its deadly terrorist attack in Israel in October 2023, the terrorist group initially stated they would only shoot at ships linked to Israel, in support of the Palestinian people, but U.S. officials have said that the group has targeted ships that have no connection to Israel’s war.Â
The U.S., Israel and United Kingdom have previously hit Houthi-held areas in Yemen.
In January, days after he took office Mr. Trump designated the Houthis a Foreign Terrorist Organization. Former President Biden had removed the Houthis as a Foreign Terrorist Organization in 2021 but then re-designated them as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist in early 2024.
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