24 Killed in Yemen as Trump Orders Airstrikes on Houthis Over Red Sea Attacks
US President Donald Trump ordered airstrikes on Houthi-held areas in Yemen, killing 24 civilians, in response to the group’s attacks on Red Sea shipping. The strikes, launched Saturday, aim to curb the Iran-backed Houthis’ disruptions to global trade routes.
The US military targeted Houthi sites in Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, and Saada province on Saturday night. The Houthi-run health ministry reported 24 deaths—13 in Sanaa and 11, including a woman and children, in Saada. Images online showed thick black smoke rising from the Sanaa airport complex early Sunday.
Trump announced the operation on Truth Social, vowing “overwhelming lethal force” until the Houthis halt attacks on American vessels. “Your time is up, and your attacks must stop, starting today,” he warned. He accused the group of costing billions and risking lives through piracy and terrorism.
The US President also cautioned Iran, the Houthis’ key backer, to end support immediately. “America will hold you fully accountable, and we won’t be nice about it,” Trump stated, linking the strikes to broader regional tensions. The operation marks the largest US military action in the Middle East since Trump took office in January.
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The Houthis condemned the strikes as a “war crime” and promised to escalate in response. “Sanaa will remain Gaza’s shield and support,” said Nasruddin Amer, deputy head of the Houthi media office. Spokesman Mohamed Abdulsalam dismissed Trump’s shipping threat claims as “false and misleading.”
The airstrikes follow Houthi threats to resume attacks on Israeli vessels over Israel’s Gaza blockade. The group has disrupted shipping in the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, and Bab el-Mandeb Strait since November 2023, sinking two ships and killing four sailors. The US deployed the USS Harry S. Truman carrier group and USS Georgia submarine for the mission.
Hamas, the Palestinian group backed by the Houthis, called the strikes a “violation of international law.” It accused the US of undermining Yemen’s sovereignty and stability amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict. The Houthis frame their maritime attacks as solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.
The Houthis’ pledge to retaliate raises fears of further escalation in Yemen and the Red Sea. The US has signaled that the strikes may continue, with Trump’s administration keeping a close watch on Iran’s response. Updates on casualties and military developments are expected as the situation unfolds.
