US President Donald Trump declared on Wednesday that Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels “will be completely annihilated,” issuing a stern warning to Tehran against providing further support to the group.
“Iran must stop the sending of these Supplies IMMEDIATELY. Let the Houthis fight it out themselves. Either way they lose, but this way they lose quickly,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
The statement came shortly after the US launched a series of airstrikes on Houthi strongholds in the Yemeni capital, Sanaa. Local reports indicated that the strikes targeted areas near the airport and other locations, including Saada and Al-Sawadiya.
The US military campaign against the Houthis, which began on Saturday, follows continued rebel attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. Washington has pledged to use overwhelming force until the Houthis cease their assaults on key maritime trade routes.
According to the Houthi-run health ministry, the US strikes have resulted in 53 deaths and nearly 100 injuries. The US has also claimed that several high-ranking Houthi officials were killed in the operations.
On Tuesday, the Houthis took responsibility for launching a missile at Israel, which was intercepted before reaching its target. This marked the first attack on Israel from Yemen since the January 19 ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war. The rebels have vowed to escalate their operations in response to renewed Israeli military actions in Gaza.
The Houthis, aligned with Iran’s so-called “axis of resistance” against the US and Israel, have been attacking ships in the Red Sea since the onset of the Israel-Hamas war, citing their support for the Palestinian cause. These actions have forced shipping companies to reroute vessels, significantly increasing costs.
The US has reiterated its commitment to neutralizing the Houthi threat and ensuring the security of international shipping lanes.