Smoke rises from a location reportedly struck by US airstrikes in Sanaa, Yemen, Saturday, March 15, 2025. —AP Picture/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 pressure” till Iranian-backed Houthi rebels stop their assaults on delivery alongside a significant maritime hall. The Houthis stated 13 civilians had 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 publish. “No terrorist pressure will cease American business 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 “totally 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 nations on Iran’s advancing nuclear weapons program. Trump has stated he won’t permit it to develop into 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. Photos on-line confirmed plumes of black smoke over the realm of the Sanaa airport advanced, which features a sprawling navy facility.
A minimum of 13 folks had 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 had 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 approved to speak to the press.
Nasruddin Amer, deputy head of the Houthi media workplace, stated the airstrikes gained’t deter them and they might retaliate in opposition to the US. “Sanaa will stay Gaza’s defend and assist and won’t abandon it irrespective 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 might resume assaults on Israeli vessels crusing off Yemen in response to Israel’s newest blockade on Gaza. They described the warning as affecting the Purple 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 assist coming into Gaza and warned of “further 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 concentrating 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 at the least 4 airstrikes rocked the Jap Geraf neighborhood there, terrifying ladies and kids.
“The explosions had been very sturdy,” stated Abdallah al-Alffi. “It was like an earthquake.”
The Jap Geraf is residence to Houthi-held navy amenities and a headquarters for the rebels’ political bureau, positioned in a densely populated space.
America, 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 response to a US official. It was the primary strike on the Yemen-based Houthis beneath the second Trump administration.
Such broad-based missile strikes in opposition to the Houthis had been carried out a number of instances by the Biden administration in response to frequent assaults by the Houthis in opposition to business and navy vessels within the area.
The USS Harry S. Truman provider strike group, which incorporates the provider, three Navy destroyers and one cruiser, are within the Purple Sea and had 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 Seashore, Florida.
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“These relentless assaults have price the US and World Economic system many BILLIONS of {Dollars} whereas, on the similar time, placing harmless lives in danger,” Trump stated. —AP