THE United States and Iran-backed Houthis are vowing escalation after US airstrikes targeted rebel positions in Yemen.
The Houthi-run Health Ministry reported 53 killed and nearly 100 injured. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated the strikes would continue until the Houthis lose their ability to disrupt shipping.
President Donald Trump on Saturday vowed to use “overwhelming lethal force” until the Houthis cease their attacks, and warned that Tehran would be held “fully accountable” for their actions.
The US strikes were among the most extensive since the Gaza war began in October 2023. Trump’s national security adviser said key Houthi leaders were targeted.
Houthi leader Abdul-Malik al-Houthi vowed retaliation, including strikes on US warships. The rebels claimed to have targeted the USS Harry S. Truman, but US officials reported intercepting 11 drones and one missile. / AP
The U.N. called for restraint, warning of humanitarian risks. Iran denied involvement in the Houthi attacks, while the U.S. accused Tehran of arming the rebels. The U.S. Navy has intercepted Iranian-made missile parts bound for Yemen.
The recent strikes mark the first U.S. attack on the Houthis under Trump’s second term. The USS Harry S. Truman strike group and the USS Georgia cruise missile submarine participated in the operation. / AP