Trump Launches Strikes Against Iranian-Backed Houthis in Yemen

President Trump pledged Saturday to unleash “hell” on Iranian-backed Houthi rebels until they stop attacking ships in the critical maritime corridor.

“Today, I have ordered the United States Military to launch decisive and powerful Military action against the Houthi terrorists in Yemen,” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post announcing the strikes.

“They have waged an unrelenting campaign of piracy, violence, and terrorism against American, and other, ships, aircraft, and drones,” he continued.

The Saturday strikes were carried out by the USS Harry S. Truman carrier strike group, three Navy destroyers and one cruiser at targets in Sanaa, Yemen’s capital city, according to reports.

Radars, air defenses and missile and drone systems Houthis had been using to disrupt shipping lanes in the Red Sea were among the targets, The New York Times reported.

Trump sent a direct message to the militia group, writing in the post, “YOUR ATTACKS MUST STOP, STARTING TODAY.”

“IF THEY DON’T, HELL WILL RAIN DOWN UPON YOU LIKE NOTHING YOU HAVE EVER SEEN BEFORE!”

The US will use “overwhelming lethal force to achieve its objective,” Trump added.

Iran’s support for its proxy must end “immediately,” Trump warned, cautioning the country not to threaten the US or international shipping lanes.

“If you do, BEWARE, because America will hold you fully accountable and we won’t be nice about it!” Trump said.

At least nine people were killed and another nine were injured, the Houthi-run health ministry claimed.

Trump took aim at former President Biden in his post, saying his response to the group, which has attacked American warships in the Red Sea “dozens of times” in recent months, was “pathetically weak.”

“It has been over a year since a U.S. flagged commercial ship safely sailed through the Suez Canal, the Red Sea, or the Gulf of Aden,” Trump said.

The Biden administration carried out strikes along with the UK last year in response to Houthis attacking merchant ships and military vessels but failed to bring stability to the region.

The Houthis have targeted more than 100 merchant vessels with missiles and drones, sinking two vessels and killing four sailors, since the war between Israel and Hamas began.

Earlier this week, the Houthis said “any Israeli vessel” traveling through nearby waterways would be “subject to military targeting” in response to Israel cutting off aid to Gaza.

No direct threat was made to the US, but the Navy responded it would “do what is necessary to protect and defend U.S. personnel assets and partners.”

The military action comes two weeks after Trump sent a letter to Iranian leaders urging talks on Iran’s advancing nuclear weapons program, which Trump has said he will not allow to become operational.

Iran’s Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei called the letter “unwise” and a “threat,” according to reports.