US President Donald Trump has ordered a military strike against the Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen, killing at least 31 people and injuring 101 others in a “decisive” action. The strikes targeted Houthi bases, leaders, and missile defenses to protect American shipping, air, and naval assets.
The US has been working to degrade Houthi capabilities for months, as the group disrupted international shipping lanes in the Red Sea. Trump accused the Houthis of waging “an unrelenting campaign of piracy, violence, and terrorism” against American vessels.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi criticized the US move, stating that the country has no authority to dictate Iranian foreign policy. The Houthi-run health ministry reported fatalities in Yemen’s capital Sanaa and northern province of Saada.
Trump warned Iran that if it supported the Houthis, “America will hold you fully accountable,” while delivering a warning for Iran to immediately end support for the group. The US Secretary of State Marco Rubio discussed the strikes with his Russian counterpart, stressing that continued Houthi attacks on US military and commercial shipping vessels would not be tolerated.
The Biden administration had previously carried out targeted strikes on Houthi positions, but these actions did not prevent further attacks. Trump signed an order designating the Houthis a “foreign terrorist organization” earlier this year, stating that their approach to the group was “pathetically weak.”
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/03/15/politics/trump-houthis-military-action/index.html