US airstrikes against Houthis in Yemen will continue indefinitely following initial attacks that resulted in numerous casualties. These strikes serve to deter Houthi threats to shipping and represent a bold US military strategy under President Trump. Officials warn that until Houthi assaults cease, military actions will persist, with significant implications for regional stability.
United States officials have announced that airstrikes against Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis will persist indefinitely. The initial strikes occurred on Saturday, resulting in at least 31 fatalities and up to 100 injuries. This military action, which aims to deter Houthi attacks on maritime vessels in the Red Sea, marks President Donald Trump’s inaugural use of military force since taking office in January.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated, “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 unrelenting.” Other senior officials emphasized that these strikes reflect a new assertive stance towards Iran and the broader Middle East region. National Security Adviser Michael Waltz noted the operation targeted multiple Houthi leaders, stating that the use of overwhelming force would signal to Iran that “enough is enough.”
President Trump criticized the Houthis on his Truth Social platform, declaring, “YOUR TIME IS UP, AND YOUR ATTACKS MUST STOP, STARTING TODAY. IF THEY DON’T, HELL WILL RAIN DOWN UPON YOU LIKE NOTHING YOU HAVE EVER SEEN BEFORE!” He also warned Iran to cease support for the Houthis immediately. Official photos captured Trump monitoring the strikes from Florida, amidst reports of his presence at his Mar-a-Lago resort.
The Houthis claim their actions against international shipping are in solidarity with Palestinians and Hamas, both backed by Iran. They have also launched missiles and drones at Israel. Israeli officials are investigating a missile from Yemen that landed near Sharm el-Sheikh, assessing whether it was directed at Israel.
The response from Iran’s leadership came swiftly, with Major General Hossein Salami of the Revolutionary Guards asserting that the Houthis make their own operational decisions. He warned that Iran would respond decisively to any US aggression. Iran’s foreign ministry condemned the US strikes, labeling them a “gross violation of the principles of the United Nations charter.”
As tensions escalate, Washington has intensified sanctions against Iran while attempting to engage it over its nuclear program. Observers are contemplating whether military action against Tehran may follow increased pressures from Israel. The US military’s central command described Saturday’s strikes as part of a large-scale operation, expected to last several weeks.
The Houthis are integral members of the so-called “axis of resistance,” a coalition of militant groups within the region. Unlike others, the Houthis have not faced significant degradation amid the conflict in Gaza and previous tensions with Israel. Reports indicate that most casualties from the strikes were women and children, according to Houthi health ministry spokesperson Anees al-Asbahi. The Houthi political bureau denounced these acts as a “war crime,” asserting their readiness to escalate if provoked further.
Local Yemeni residents described the attacks as terrifying, impacting neighborhoods inhabited by Houthi leaders. Destructive explosions forced local residents to clear debris using cranes and their hands. Hospitals are treating several of the injured, including children, while the former Biden administration had previously limited military measures against the Houthis.
Recently, the Houthis announced their intention to renew attacks on Israeli vessels in the region, concluding an earlier lull that began with a Gaza ceasefire. A Pentagon spokesperson reported that since 2023, the Houthis have attacked US warships 174 times and commercial vessels 145 times.
In summary, US airstrikes against the Houthis in Yemen will continue indefinitely as a response to their aggression against maritime commerce in the Red Sea. These military actions reflect President Trump’s assertive approach towards Iran and signify an escalation in tensions in the region. Despite the humanitarian consequences, the Houthis claim solidarity with the Palestinian cause and threaten to retaliate against perceived aggressions, indicating a potential prolongation of conflict.
Original Source: www.theguardian.com
