At least 31 people were killed as US President Donald Trump ordered large-scale military strikes against Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis on Saturday, according to Reuters. The action follows the group's attacks on Red Sea shipping, which Trump vowed to stop, warning that "hell will rain down" on the Houthis if they continue.
"To all Houthi terrorists, YOUR TIME IS UP," Trump announced on X post.
Why did the US strike the Houthis?
The Houthis have been targeting commercial and military vessels in the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, and other key maritime routes since late 2023.
They claim these attacks are in response to Israel’s blockade on Gaza. Despite a ceasefire in Gaza, the Houthis recently warned they would resume strikes on Israeli-linked ships.
What did Trump say?
Trump justified the strikes as necessary to protect global trade and US assets, stating, “No terrorist force will stop American commercial and naval vessels from freely sailing the Waterways of the World.” He also warned Iran, the Houthis’ main backer, to cease its support, threatening to hold Tehran “fully accountable.”