US President Donald Trump has vowed to “completely annihilate” the Iran-backed Houthi militant group in Yemen, warning Tehran to stop supplying it with military equipment and support. The comments came as the US military continued its wave of attacks on Houthi targets in Yemen.
The strikes began on Saturday and have caused significant damage, according to Trump. He also claimed that the Houthis will be “completely annihilated” after a series of attacks, which he says are funded by Iran.
The US Central Command posted a video showing American fighter jets shooting down Houthi attack drones, highlighting the military’s efforts to restore freedom of navigation in regional waters. The Houthis have been targeting ships in the Red Sea, including those belonging to Israel and commercial vessels.
The US has targeted the group’s training sites, command centers, and weapons facilities since the weekend, with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stating that Houthi attacks on American ships will not be tolerated. The Yemeni group claims to have targeted a US aircraft carrier four times in the previous three days, but US officials say this was an error.
Initial estimates suggest dozens of Houthi casualties after the weekend strikes, including technical weapons experts. However, there are no indications that civilian casualties have occurred.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/19/world/middleeast/trump-houthis-yemen-strikes.html