Trump orders strikes on Houthi rebels over attacks on Red Sea shipping

U.S. President Donald Trump launched the first large-scale military strike of his second term against the Iran-backed Houthi rebels of Yemen on Saturday night. 

“Today I have ordered the United States Military to launch decisive and powerful Military action against the Houthi terrorists in Yemen,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “They have waged an unrelenting campaign of piracy, violence, and terrorism against American, and other ships, aircraft and drones.” 

The U.S. president threatened to continue the strikes as long as the Houthis continue to threaten shipping and air traffic in the area. 

“To all Houthi terrorists, YOUR TIME IS UP, AND YOUR ATTACKS MUST STOP, STARTING TODAY,” Trump wrote. “IF THEY DON’T, HELL WILL RAIN DOWN UPON YOU LIKE NOTHING YOU HAVE EVER SEEN BEFORE!” 

The president threatened “overwhelming” force. 

“We will use overwhelming lethal force until we have achieved our objective.” 

"To all Houthi terrorists, YOUR TIME IS UP..." –President Donald J. Trump pic.twitter.com/P4qwgyDs8c

— President Donald J. Trump (@POTUS) March 15, 2025

The first round of strikes targeted buildings in the capital city of Sana’a, known to house Houthi leadership.

Houthi-run television news channel Al Masirah initially reported that 9 individuals were killed in the first strike, However, after further assessments, the Houthi government later reported a total of 31 casualties from the airstrikes.

A U.S. official told Reuters that the strikes could continue for weeks, depending on the Houthi response. 

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said the campaign would continue until the Houthis relent.

"We will come after the Houthis until they stop shooting at our ships, and the Iranians better stay out of it," Secretary Hegseth told Fox News after the strikes.

WATCH 🔴

Secretary of Defense Hegseth: “An era of PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH is back — The minute the Houthis say ‘we’ll stop shooting at your ships, we’ll stop shooting at your drones,’ this campaign will end. But until then, it will be un-relenting.” pic.twitter.com/oTiKnlOb0P

— Open Source Intel (@Osint613) March 16, 2025

President Trump also warned the Iranian regime, the main backer of the Houthi rebels, to stop support for the group. 

“To Iran: Support for the Houthi terrorists must end IMMEDIATELY! Do NOT threaten the American People, their President, who has received one of the largest mandates in Presidential History, or Worldwide shipping lanes. If you do, BEWARE, because America will hold you fully accountable,” Trump wrote. 

The Houthi political bureau vowed to retaliate, saying, “Our Yemeni armed forces are fully prepared to respond to escalation with escalation.” 

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) posted images and video of the airstrikes to social media, noting, “CENTCOM operations against Iran-backed Houthis continue.” 

CENTCOM operations against Iran-backed Houthis continue... pic.twitter.com/DYvc3gREN8

— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) March 15, 2025

The strikes came after Trump re-designated the Houthis as a foreign terrorist organization in January, a decision he made during his first term, but which was reversed by former U.S. President Joe Biden. 

In the executive order authorizing the re-designation, Trump highlighted Iran's support for the Houthis and their attacks on U.S. military vessels.

"Supported by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Quds Force (IRGC-QF), which arms and trains terrorist organizations worldwide, the Houthis have fired at U.S. Navy warships dozens of times since 2023, endangering American men and women in uniform," the order noted. 

On Sunday morning, reports indicated that a missile launched overnight from Houthi-controlled Yemen had landed in Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula, near the coastal city of Sharm el-Sheikh.

The Israeli military is working to determine whether the missile was intended to target Israel but has not yet released any conclusive findings.

Last week, after Houthi leadership threatened to resume attacks on Israel if the Gaza ceasefire collapsed, the IDF raised its alert level in anticipation of potential strikes.