WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — President Trump announced Saturday that he ordered airstrikes in Sanaa, Yemen, vowing to use “overwhelming lethal force” until the Iran-backed Houthi rebels stop attacking ships in a crucial maritime route.
Trump stated in a social media post that “brave Warfighters” are conducting aerial attacks on “terrorists’ bases, leaders, and missile defenses” to safeguard American shipping, air, and naval assets, and to ensure navigational freedom. He added that no terrorist force would impede American commercial and naval vessels from freely navigating international waterways.
He also cautioned Iran to cease supporting the Houthi rebels, promising to hold the country “fully accountable” for the actions of its proxy. This follows a letter sent by Trump to Iranian leaders two weeks prior, suggesting a path to bilateral talks regarding Iran’s nuclear weapons program, which Trump has stated he will prevent from becoming operational.
The Houthis reported a series of explosions in their territory on Saturday evening. Online images showed plumes of black smoke rising over the Sanaa airport complex, which includes a large military installation.
The airstrikes occurred shortly after the Houthis declared their intention to resume attacks on Israeli vessels off the coast of Yemen in response to Israel’s blockade of Gaza. No Houthi attacks had been reported since that announcement.
Earlier in the month, Israel suspended all aid to Gaza and warned of “additional consequences” for Hamas if the ceasefire in the war is not extended as negotiations continue regarding a second phase.
The Houthis had described their warning as taking effect in the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, and the Arabian Sea.
The Houthis targeted over 100 merchant ships with missiles and drones, sinking two and killing four sailors, between the start of the Israel-Hamas war in late 2023 and January of this year, when a fragile ceasefire in Gaza began.
These attacks significantly elevated the Houthis’ profile as they grappled with economic challenges and launched a crackdown on dissent and aid workers amid Yemen’s decade-long war, which has devastated the nation.
The United States, Israel, and Britain have previously targeted Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen. The Israeli military declined to comment.
The Houthi media office reported that the U.S. strikes hit “a residential neighborhood” in Sanaa’s northern district of Shouab. Residents of Sanaa reported at least four airstrikes in the Eastern Geraf neighborhood in Shouab district, causing fear among women and children.
“The explosions were very strong,” said Abdallah al-Alffi. “It was like an earthquake.”
According to a U.S. official, the Saturday operation against the Houthis was solely conducted by the U.S. This was the first strike against the Yemen-based Houthis under the second Trump administration, following a period of relative calm in the region.
Similar large-scale missile strikes against the Houthis were carried out multiple times by the Biden administration in response to frequent Houthi attacks on commercial and military vessels in the region.
The USS Harry S. Truman carrier strike group, including the carrier, three Navy destroyers, and one cruiser, is in the Red Sea and participated in the mission. The USS Georgia cruise missile submarine has also been operating in the region.
Trump announced the strikes while spending the day at his Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida.
“These relentless assaults have cost the U.S. and World Economy many BILLIONS of Dollars while, at the same time, putting innocent lives at risk,” Trump said.
—Baldor reported from Washington and Magdy reported from Cairo. AP White House Correspondent Zeke Miller contributed from Washington.
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