Smoke rises from a location reportedly struck by US airstrikes in Sanaa, Yemen, Saturday, March 15, 2025. —AP Photograph/Osamah Abdulrahman
WEST PALM BEACH, Florida — President Donald Trump stated he ordered a sequence of airstrikes on Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, on Saturday, promising to make use of “overwhelming deadly drive” till Iranian-backed Houthi rebels stop their assaults on delivery alongside a significant maritime hall. The Houthis stated 13 civilians have been killed.
“Our courageous Warfighters are proper now finishing up aerial assaults on the terrorists’ bases, leaders, and missile defenses to guard American delivery, air, and naval belongings, and to revive Navigational Freedom,” Trump stated in a social media submit. “No terrorist drive will cease American industrial and naval vessels from freely crusing the Waterways of the World.”
He additionally warned Iran to cease supporting the insurgent group, promising to carry the nation “absolutely accountable” for the actions of its proxy. It comes two weeks after the US chief despatched a letter to Iranian leaders providing a path to restarting bilateral talks between the international locations on Iran’s advancing nuclear weapons program. Trump has stated he is not going to permit it to turn out to be operational.
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The Houthis reported explosions of their territory Saturday night, in Sanaa and within the northern province of Saada, the rebels’ stronghold on the border with Saudi Arabia. Pictures on-line confirmed plumes of black smoke over the world of the Sanaa airport advanced, which features a sprawling navy facility.
At the very least 13 folks have been killed, stated Anees al-Asbahi, spokesman for the Houthi-run well being ministry. In an announcement on social media, he stated one other 9 have been wounded.
A US official stated this was the start of air strikes on Houthi targets which are anticipated to proceed. The official spoke on the situation of anonymity as a result of they weren’t licensed to speak to the press.
Nasruddin Amer, deputy head of the Houthi media workplace, stated the airstrikes gained’t deter them and they’d retaliate towards the US. “Sanaa will stay Gaza’s defend and assist and won’t abandon it regardless of the challenges,” he added on social media.
One other spokesman, Mohamed Abdulsalam, on X, referred to as Trump’s claims that the Houthis threaten worldwide delivery routes “false and deceptive.”
The airstrikes come just a few days after the Houthis stated they’d resume assaults on Israeli vessels crusing off Yemen in response to Israel’s newest blockade on Gaza. They described the warning as affecting the Crimson Sea, the Gulf of Aden, the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and the Arabian Sea.
There have been no Houthi assaults reported since then.
Earlier this month, Israel halted all help coming into Gaza and warned of “extra penalties” for Hamas if their fragile ceasefire within the warfare isn’t prolonged as negotiations proceed over beginning a second part.
The Houthis had focused over 100 service provider vessels with missiles and drones, sinking two vessels and killing 4 sailors, throughout their marketing campaign focusing on navy and civilian ships between the beginning of the warfare between Israel and Hamas in late 2023 and January of this yr, when this ceasefire in Gaza took impact.
The assaults raised the Houthis’ profile as they confronted financial and different issues at residence amid Yemen’s decade-long stalemated warfare that’s torn aside the Arab world’s poorest nation.
The Houthi media workplace stated the US strikes hit a residential neighborhood in Sanaa’s northern district of Shouab. Residents stated not less than 4 airstrikes rocked the Japanese Geraf neighborhood there, terrifying ladies and youngsters.
“The explosions have been very sturdy,” stated Abdallah al-Alffi. “It was like an earthquake.”
The Japanese Geraf is residence to Houthi-held navy services and a headquarters for the rebels’ political bureau, situated in a densely populated space.
The US, Israel and Britain have beforehand hit Houthi-held areas in Yemen. Israel’s navy declined to remark.
However Saturday’s operation was performed solely by the US, in accordance with a US official. It was the primary strike on the Yemen-based Houthis beneath the second Trump administration.
Such broad-based missile strikes towards the Houthis have been carried out a number of occasions by the Biden administration in response to frequent assaults by the Houthis towards industrial and navy vessels within the area.
The USS Harry S. Truman service strike group, which incorporates the service, three Navy destroyers and one cruiser, are within the Crimson Sea and have been a part of Saturday’s mission. The USS Georgia cruise missile submarine has additionally been working within the area.
Trump introduced the strikes as he spent the day at his Trump Worldwide Golf Membership in West Palm Seaside, Florida.
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“These relentless assaults have price the US and World Financial system many BILLIONS of {Dollars} whereas, on the identical time, placing harmless lives in danger,” Trump stated. —AP
