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U.S. President Donald Trump, who pledged at the start of his term to end global conflicts rather than start new ones, launched a large-scale assault Saturday night on dozens of Houthi targets in Yemen.
According to reports, these strikes mark only the "opening salvo" of a broader U.S. campaign against the Iran-backed terrorist group, which has recently resumed threats against Israel and ships bound for its ports via the Red Sea. A U.S. official told Reuters that the strikes are expected to continue for at least several days, possibly even weeks.
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US strikes in Sanaa, Yemen
(Video: Reuters)
The operation marks a major shift in U.S. policy compared to that of Trump's predecessor, Joe Biden. The goal is to punish the Houthis for directly targeting Western naval vessels in the Red Sea while also exerting indirect pressure on Tehran over its nuclear program.
Iran has so far refused to negotiate with Trump under his policy of sanctions and military threats. The strikes also aim to weaken Iran's ability to operate its regional proxies. Additionally, economic considerations are a key factor, as the U.S. seeks to ensure the safe passage of oil tankers from the Persian Gulf to Europe.
While the Biden administration did conduct airstrikes against the Houthis, it refrained from a proactive military campaign, fearing a wider regional war. However, following the collapse of Iran’s axis—including Hezbollah’s heavy losses in Lebanon and the fall of the Assad regime in Syria—the Trump administration appears unafraid of such an escalation.
Acting on Israel’s advice and in coordination with Saudi Arabia and Egypt—whose economy is suffering from the near paralysis of the Suez Canal due to Houthi attacks—the administration is now taking direct and aggressive action to degrade the Houthis' ability to disrupt shipping in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and the Red Sea.
Israel’s coordination with Washington is crucial, as such extensive U.S. airstrikes in Yemen could provoke the Houthis to retaliate with ballistic missiles and explosive drones against Israeli territory. However, Israel’s intelligence contribution to the operation has been minimal, if at all. Israel has yet to develop the vast intelligence-gathering capabilities that could significantly aid U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), which is leading the strikes.
Israel’s primary role has been in encouraging the Trump administration to adopt a more aggressive approach toward Yemen—not only because of renewed Houthi threats against Israel but also to prevent them from threatening international shipping in Bab el-Mandeb, launching missiles toward Israel and targeting Western coalition vessels in the Red Sea. While Saudi Arabia provides the main intelligence on the Houthis, the U.S. itself is responsible for gathering most of the operational data for the strikes.
Houthis threaten Israel
U.S. air and naval strikes targeted dozens of Houthi sites in Sana’a and Saada, Yemen, on Saturday night. Yemen’s health ministry reported at least nine killed and nine wounded in the attacks on Sana’a. Hezbollah-affiliated Lebanese network Al Mayadeen later reported that the number of fatalities had risen to 13. Following the strikes, Houthi officials swiftly issued threats against Israel.
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US fighter jets taking off for attacks on Houthi targets in Yemen
(Video: CENTCOM)
Hezam al-Asad, a senior Houthi figure, posted in Hebrew on social media: “Trump and Netanyahu are digging graves for the Zionists. Start worrying about your heads.”
According to The New York Times, two senior U.S. officials confirmed that these strikes are just the “opening salvo” of a broader military campaign against the Iran-backed group.
A member of the Houthis’ Supreme Political Council warned: “Our response to these attacks will be on the ground. Striking densely populated areas in the heart of Sana’a only proves the military failure of the enemy.”
The U.S. targeted Houthi radar systems, air defense installations and missile batteries, with the Trump administration’s goal being to reopen international shipping lanes in the Red Sea. Local reports indicated that the United Kingdom also participated in the strikes. U.S. officials described this as the most significant military operation of Trump’s short second term, intended as a warning to Iran as well.
According to Arab media reports, the strikes in Sana’a hit an airport, a television station and a Houthi command-and-control center. The attacks concentrated on the Al-Jiraf neighborhood, where most Houthi operatives are based. A local source told Ynet that the area is akin to Hezbollah’s stronghold in Beirut’s Dahieh district.
U.S. reports indicate that the strikes, aimed at the Houthis’ vast weapons stockpiles—some of which are buried underground—could last several days, possibly weeks, and may escalate depending on the Houthis’ response.
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Houthi missile debris crashes on top of Mevo Beitar home in January
(Photo: REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun)
The New York Times also noted that some National Security Council advisers are pushing for even more aggressive strikes to force the Houthis to relinquish significant territory in northern Yemen.
Senior Houthi official Nasruddin Amer responded to the U.S. offensive on X, writing: “Sana’a will remain Gaza’s shield and support. It will not abandon it, no matter the challenges.” Another Houthi Supreme Political Council member told Qatar’s Al Araby channel: “Our attacks in the Red Sea will continue.”
Trump to Houthis: 'Your time is up'
Trump announced Saturday night that he had ordered a decisive military operation against Houthi militants in Yemen.
"Today, I have ordered the United States Military to launch decisive and powerful Military action against the Houthi terrorists in Yemen," he wrote on his Truth Social platform. "They have waged an unrelenting campaign of piracy, violence, and terrorism against American, and other, ships, aircraft, and drones. Joe Biden’s response was pathetically weak, so the unrestrained Houthis just kept going."
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Houthis at a pro-Gaza rally in Sana’a, Yemen, December 20, 2023
(Photo: REUTERS/Khaled Abdullah)
According to Trump, "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. The last American Warship to go through the Red Sea, four months ago, was attacked by the Houthis over a dozen times. Funded by Iran, the Houthi thugs have fired missiles at U.S. aircraft, and targeted our Troops and Allies. These relentless assaults have cost the U.S. and World Economy many BILLIONS of Dollars while, at the same time, putting innocent lives at risk."
"Our brave Warfighters are right now carrying out aerial attacks on the terrorists’ bases, leaders, and missile defenses to protect American shipping, air, and naval assets, and to restore Navigational Freedom," Trump emphasized. "No terrorist force will stop American commercial and naval vessels from freely sailing the Waterways of the World.
Trump then issued a direct warning: "To all Houthi terrorists, 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!"
Turning to Iran, Trump warned: "Support for the Houthi terrorists must end IMMEDIATELY! Do NOT threaten the American People, their President, who has received one of the largest mandates in Presidential History, or Worldwide shipping lanes. If you do, BEWARE, because America will hold you fully accountable and, we won’t be nice about it!"