The United States has carried out a significant series of airstrikes against Houthi rebel forces in Yemen, marking a sharp escalation in the ongoing conflict in the region. The airstrikes were ordered in response to the group’s persistent attacks on international shipping in the Red Sea, a crucial maritime trade route.
President Donald Trump announced the airstrikes, calling them a “decisive and powerful” response to the Houthi rebels’ actions, which have targeted commercial vessels with missiles and drones in recent months. The US leader condemned the Houthi group for what he described as acts of “piracy, violence, and terrorism,” which he said have caused billions of dollars in damages and put countless lives at risk. Trump specifically highlighted the danger posed to US forces and allies by the group’s missile attacks and their interference with global trade.
The strikes targeted key Houthi positions, including military facilities in the capital, Sanaa, and in Saada, a northern province controlled by the rebels near the Saudi Arabian border. According to reports from the Houthi-run health ministry, at least 15 people were killed and nine others injured in the attacks. The group responded defiantly, promising to retaliate against the US, and reiterated its commitment to supporting Palestinian causes in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas.
The Houthis, who have controlled much of northern Yemen, including the capital, Sanaa, since 2014, have been increasingly involved in attacks on international shipping. Their aggressive actions in the Red Sea began in late 2023, when they started targeting vessels, many of which they claimed were linked to Israel, the US, or the UK. Since then, the Houthis have launched a series of missile and drone attacks on merchant ships passing through the strategic waterway. These attacks have not only caused loss of life but have also disrupted global trade, forcing major shipping companies to reroute their vessels around southern Africa to avoid the danger.
The Red Sea, through which nearly 15% of global seaborne trade passes, is a vital route for the transportation of goods, including oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG). The disruption caused by Houthi actions has led to concerns over the security of international shipping and the potential impact on global oil prices. The US military has responded by deploying warships to protect merchant vessels, but these efforts have not been sufficient to stop the Houthi attacks.
Since November 2023, the Houthis have been responsible for at least 190 attacks in the Red Sea, according to a report from the US Congress. Despite the presence of Western warships in the region, the group has continued its operations, sinking at least two vessels, seizing another, and killing several crew members. Israel has also targeted Houthi positions in response to missile and drone attacks launched from Yemen.
Trump’s decision to escalate US military involvement comes after a year-long period in which US-flagged ships have been unable to safely pass through the Suez Canal, a key global trade route that connects the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea. The attacks have also made it increasingly dangerous for US warships to navigate through the region. The US President warned that if the Houthis do not cease their attacks, “hell will rain down upon you like nothing you have ever seen before.”
In addition to the airstrikes, Trump issued a stark warning to Iran, accusing the country of supporting the Houthi rebels and contributing to the destabilization of the region. Iran, a key ally of the Houthis, has been accused of providing military aid, including weapons and training, to the group. Trump called on Iran to end its support for the Houthis, threatening to hold Tehran “fully accountable” for its actions. He also criticized the previous US administration under President Joe Biden for being “pathetically weak” in dealing with Iran and its proxies.
The Houthis, for their part, have remained unyielding in their stance. In a statement, the group said the US and UK airstrikes were acts of “wicked” aggression targeting residential areas in Sanaa. They also warned that their forces were ready to escalate their response if the attacks continued, pledging to defend the Palestinian cause and their support for Hamas in the Gaza conflict.
The Iranian-backed group has justified its actions in the Red Sea as part of a broader campaign to support Palestinians in the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict. However, their claims of targeting only ships connected to Israel, the US, or the UK have been widely disputed, with many of their attacks affecting neutral or non-partisan vessels. The group has also claimed responsibility for strikes against Israeli interests, including missile and drone attacks aimed at Israel from Yemen since July 2024.
This new wave of US airstrikes is the latest in a series of military responses to the growing threat posed by the Houthis. In the past, the US and UK have conducted joint naval and air strikes against Houthi military installations, while Israel has carried out separate attacks in retaliation for the group’s missile and drone launches. Despite these efforts, the Houthis have shown little sign of relenting, continuing to disrupt global shipping and intensifying their support for Palestinian militant groups.
The situation in Yemen remains dire, with millions of civilians caught in the crossfire of a brutal civil war that has raged for nearly a decade. The Houthis’ control of large parts of northern Yemen, including the capital, has left the internationally recognized government, backed by Saudi Arabia and other regional allies, unable to regain full control of the country. The conflict has caused a humanitarian crisis, with widespread famine, disease, and displacement affecting millions of people.
As the situation continues to evolve, the international community remains divided on how to address the Houthi threat. While the US, UK, and Israel have all taken military action, other countries, including Russia and China, have called for a diplomatic solution to the conflict. However, with tensions rising and the Houthis refusing to back down, it remains to be seen whether military strikes or negotiations will ultimately bring an end to the violence.
In the meantime, the Red Sea remains a key battleground in the broader struggle for control of the region’s vital maritime routes. The outcome of this conflict could have far-reaching consequences not just for Yemen, but for global trade and security in the Middle East.
