U.S. airstrikes against Yemen’s Houthis will continue indefinitely, following strikes that killed at least 31. These attacks aim to deter Houthi threats to maritime shipping, reflecting a new U.S. military approach towards Iran. The U.S. emphasizes the need for the Houthis to cease hostilities, while Iranian officials assert their independence from U.S. threats. Casualties have raised humanitarian concerns amid ongoing military operations.
United States officials have announced that airstrikes against the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen will proceed indefinitely. This decision follows initial strikes on Saturday that resulted in at least 31 fatalities and up to 100 injuries. The military actions intend to deter Houthi assaults on shipping in the Red Sea and mark President Donald Trump’s first military engagement in the region since his inauguration in January.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth emphasized the intentions behind the strikes, stating, “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.” These operations convey a new assertive stance against Iran and its influence in the Middle East.
Michael Waltz, the U.S. National Security Adviser, mentioned in various interviews that the strikes effectively targeted and eliminated multiple Houthi leaders, employing overwhelming military force to signal that Iran’s actions would no longer be tolerated. Trump addressed the Houthis directly 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!”
The Houthis, who control most of Yemen, have stated their assaults on international shipping are acts of solidarity with Palestine and Hamas. Recent tensions have led the Yemeni group to launch missiles and other attacks aimed at Israel. Meanwhile, Iranian officials have responded by asserting that the Houthis operate independently.
Maj. Gen. Hossein Salami of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards warned that Iran would act decisively against threats, while the Iranian foreign ministry condemned the U.S. airstrikes as a violation of international law, asserting that the U.S. should cease its military support for actions resulting in civilian casualties in Yemen.
The U.S. military’s Central Command described Saturday’s airstrikes as the commencement of an extensive operation in Yemen, asserting the possibility of prolonged military engagement. Significantly, the Houthis remain a pivotal actor within the Iranian-led resistance coalition, having remained resilient despite recent conflicts affecting Hamas and Hezbollah.
Reports indicate that numerous casualties from the strikes were women and children, prompting Houthi officials to label the operations as a war crime. Local residents described the severity of the bombings in Sana’a, which reportedly struck an area populated by Houthi leaders. Amid the chaos, emergency responders treated the injured, and recovery efforts were impeded as residents began clearing debris.
Former President Joe Biden’s administration previously limited military actions to curb Houthi attacks, but the current operations signify a shift in U.S. strategy. Following the strikes, the Houthis announced their intention to resume assaults on Israeli vessels, marking a return to aggressive maritime actions that had paused during the Gaza ceasefire earlier this year.
The recent U.S. airstrikes against the Houthis in Yemen, initiated as a decisive military response to Houthi aggression against maritime shipping, signal a significant escalation in U.S. involvement in the region. With the potential for protracted military operations, the strikes raise serious humanitarian concerns as reported casualties include numerous civilians. As tensions escalate, the prospect for further military engagements looms, indicating a shift in U.S. policy towards a more proactive and assertive stance against Iranian influence and its allies in the Middle East.
Original Source: www.theguardian.com
