Trump declares war on the Houthis in Yemen demanding Iran to stop supporting them
US President Donald Trump announced the launch of military strikes against the Yemeni Ansar Allah group (Houthis) in Yemen, threatening the group with severe punishment.
“Your time is up… You must cease your attacks immediately… If you don’t, you will face consequences like you have never seen before,” Trump said in his statement.
In this regard, Trump sent a message to Iran, calling Tehran to stop supporting the Houthis, describing them as “terrorists,” and stressing the need to end such support immediately.
Trump posted on Truth Social, saying, “Today, I ordered the United States military to take strong and decisive action against the Houthis in Yemen”.
He explained that the Houthis have repeatedly targeted American ships and aircraft, in addition to drones and other attacks.
He added, “More than a year has passed without a US commercial vessel safely passing through the Suez Canal, the Red Sea, or the Gulf of Aden”.
Trump noted that the last US warship to cross the Red Sea was repeatedly attacked by the Houthis, more than 12 times over the past four months.
He also asserted that Iran funds the Houthis, allowing them to launch missiles targeting US forces and their allies.
These attacks have caused massive economic losses for Americans and the world, in addition to threatening the lives of civilians.
Trump stressed, “the United States won’t accept attacks on American ships and will use lethal force to achieve its goals”.
He added, “Brave American forces are now conducting airstrikes targeting terrorist sites, their leaders, and their missile defenses to protect American shipping and restore freedom of navigation”.
The US President affirmed that “no terrorist force will prevent American ships from sailing freely through international waterways”.
In contrast, the Houthi group announced on Saturday evening that US and Israeli airstrikes targeted the capital, Sana’a.
The Houthi Defense Ministry’s website, quoted local sources as confirming a series of airstrikes on Sana’a, noting that loud explosions were heard without specifying the targeted locations.
A Yemeni Health Ministry spokesman said that US airstrikes killed nine civilians and injured nine others in Sana’a.
In a related development, the Houthi group announced that US and British airstrikes targeted the city of Saada in northern Yemen, just hours after similar raids on a residential neighborhood in Sanaa, resulting in casualties.
According to Houthi sources, the raids targeted the northern city of Saada, a province that is a major stronghold of the Houthi group and lies on the border with Saudi Arabia.
Last week, Houthi leader Abdulmalik al Houthi announced the implementation of a ban on Israeli shipping in the Red and Arabian Seas, the Bab al Mandab Strait, and the Gulf of Aden, in response to Israel’s denial of aid to the Gaza Strip.
He explained that any Israeli ship attempting to pass through these areas would be targeted, considering this measure necessary to respond to the starvation of the Palestinian people resulting from the blockade imposed on the Gaza Strip.
He also pointed out that the continued Israeli siege on the Palestinians constitutes a crime against humanity and requires practical steps to confront it, pointing out that US support for Israel encourages it to take aggressive steps, and that these policies will only be halted through a decisive response and strong practical steps.
He stressed that all options are open if the siege and starvation continue, calling for practical measures to support the Palestinians and pressure Israel to end its aggression.
