The first US strikes against Yemen’s Houthi rebels since President Donald Trump took office in January have killed at least 31 people, according to the Houthis. Washington has warned Iran to stop supporting the group.
The Houthis, who have targeted Israel and Red Sea shipping during the Gaza conflict, claimed children were among the victims.
An AFP photographer in Sanaa reported hearing three explosions and seeing smoke rise over the rebel-held capital.
Airstrikes on Sanaa, Saada, Al Bayda, and Radaa killed 31 people and injured 101, mostly women and children, according to Houthi health ministry spokesperson Anis Al-Asbahi.
Trump warns Iran
Trump vowed to use “overwhelming lethal force” and demanded Iran “immediately” withdraw its support.
The Houthis warned the strikes “will not pass without response.” Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi condemned the attacks, saying Washington had “no authority” to dictate foreign policy.
The Houthis’ Ansarollah website denounced the airstrikes as “US-British aggression” and accused Washington of “criminal brutality.”
US Central Command (CENTCOM) released images of fighters and a bomb striking a compound. It described the strikes as “precision” attacks aimed at protecting US interests, deterring threats, and ensuring freedom of navigation.
The British government has not commented.
Rising tensions
“Our Yemeni armed forces are fully prepared to confront escalation with escalation,” the Houthis’ political bureau announced via Al-Masirah TV.
The group has controlled much of Yemen for over a decade. It is aligned with Iran and opposes Israel and the US.
Since the Gaza conflict began, the Houthis have launched drone and missile attacks on ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, claiming solidarity with Palestinians.
Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said the Houthis have attacked US warships 174 times and commercial vessels 145 times since 2023.
The attacks have disrupted global trade. Many companies have been forced to take a longer, costlier route around Africa.
Hamas, which supports the Houthis, condemned the US strikes. It called them “a stark violation of international law and an assault on Yemen’s sovereignty and stability.”
Trump ultimatum
The US, with occasional British support, has launched multiple strikes on Houthi targets.
The Houthis paused attacks during the Gaza ceasefire in January. On Tuesday, they announced they would resume them until Israel lifts restrictions on aid to Gaza.
Trump focused on Houthi attacks on merchant ships rather than the Gaza issue.
“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!” he declared.
“Do NOT threaten the American People, their President… or Worldwide shipping lanes. If you do, BEWARE, because America will hold you fully accountable, and we won’t be nice about it!”
Earlier this month, the US reclassified the Houthis as a “foreign terrorist organisation,” banning American interactions with the group.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. Russia has close ties with Iran, which supports the Houthis.
“Continued Houthi attacks on US military and commercial shipping vessels in the Red Sea will not be tolerated,” Rubio told Lavrov, according to the State Department.
Ongoing conflict in Yemen
The Houthis seized Sanaa in 2014 and nearly took over the country before a Saudi-led coalition intervened.
The war has devastated Yemen. Fighting has largely paused since a 2022 ceasefire, but peace talks have stalled due to continued Houthi attacks on Israel and Israel-linked shipping.
