US President Donald Trump has warned that any further attacks by the Houthi rebel group on Saudi Arabian territory would be considered an attack by Iran, and would face “dire” consequences.
Trump’s threat comes after the US launched a new series of airstrikes against the Houthis beginning Saturday. The Houthis have been targeting Western-linked shipping and launching munitions into Israel since 2022, in protest of Israel’s war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
The US struck 30 targets in Yemen on Saturday, including terrorist training sites, unmanned aerial vehicle infrastructure, and facilities used to threaten shipping. On Sunday, the Houthis claimed to have fired 18 ballistic missiles and a drone, but all were downed by fighters.
Trump described the US strikes as “decisive and powerful military action” against the Iranian-backed group. National security adviser Mike Waltz said the strikes targeted multiple Houthi leaders and held Iran responsible for the attacks.
The Houthis have vowed to continue targeting Israeli ships through the Red Sea until the blockade on Gaza is lifted. The extent of their attacks and relative success has not been confirmed.
Yesterday, 53 people were killed in Yemen and over 98 injured by US airstrikes. However, no civilian casualties were reported, according to Lt. Gen. Alexus Grynkewich.
Source: https://abcnews.go.com/International/houthi-missile-drone-attack-us-navy-ships-failed/story?id=119863896