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By Peter Aitken
Politics Weekend Editor
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President Donald Trump announced on Saturday on Truth Social that he ordered the U.S. military to take "decisive and powerful" action against the Houthis in Yemen.
Why It Matters
Ansar Allah, widely known as the Iran-backed Houthi movement, has been a major disrupter of shipping throughout the Israeli-Gaza conflict. Their attacks on various shipping vessels throughout the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden—targeting American and allied ships—have driven up freight and insurance costs and forced some vessels to take long detours.
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The U.S. had delisted the Houthis as a foreign terrorist organization during the Biden administration, but the State Department earlier this month relisted the group under order from Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The U.S. then sanctioned seven senior members of the group for smuggling military-grade weapons into Yemen and negotiating arms deals with Russia.
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What To Know
On Truth Social, Trump wrote that he has ordered aerial attacks on "bases, leaders, and missile defenses" as a means of protecting American assets and restoring "Navigational Freedom." This is the most significant military action taken by the Trump administration since Trump's second term began.
"No terrorist force will stop American commercial and naval vessels from freely sailing the Waterways of the World," Trump wrote.
He lambasted former President Joe Biden for a "pathetically weak" response to the Houthi attacks, saying the "unrestrained Houthis just kept going" and that "it has been over a year since a U.S. flagged commercial ship safely sailed" through the region.
"The last American Warship to go through the Red Sea, four months ago, was attacked by the Houthis over a dozen times," the president wrote. "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."
Trump added: "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!"
Trump also included a message for Iran, warning Tehran against providing support to the Houthi forces.
"If you do, BEWARE, because America will hold you fully accountable and, we won't be nice about it!" Trump wrote.
The Houthis reported explosions in their territory Saturday evening, including in the capital, Sanaa, and the northern province of Saada, their stronghold near the Saudi border.
Additional airstrikes were reported in these areas early Sunday. Images circulating online showed thick black smoke rising over the Sanaa airport complex, which houses a large military facility. The Houthis also reported airstrikes early Sunday in the provinces of Hodeida, Bayda, and Marib.
The Houthi-run Health Ministry reported early Sunday that the death toll had risen to 53, including women and children. Ministry spokesperson Anees al-Asbahi added that 101 others were injured.
The group then claimed to have hit back at the U.S.: Houthi spokesperson Yahya Saree on Sunday said the group launched 18 ballistic and cruise missiles and a drone at the USS Harry S Truman aircraft carrier, according to USNI News citing a post on X by Saree. The U.S. has yet to respond to the claim.
The Houthis announced earlier this week that it would start blocking "Zionist" shipping again, which meant a potential increased risk of maritime attacks on Israeli and American vessels.
Senior Ansar Allah member Mohamed Ali Al-Houthi wrote on X, formerly Twitter, that the group confirmed "the readiness of the Yemeni naval operations, whose mission is to confront the Israeli American starvation and terrorist siege of Gaza," adding that "any escalation will be the responsibility of the Israeli and American enemies."
Al-Houthi also called for Israel to lift its blockade on humanitarian aid on Gaza or face further attacks.
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What People Are Saying
President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social: "Today, I have ordered the United States Military to launch decisive and powerful Military action against the Houthi terrorists in Yemen. They have waged an unrelenting campaign of piracy, violence, and terrorism against American, and other, ships, aircraft, and drones."
He added: "The Houthi attack on American vessels will not be tolerated. We will use overwhelming lethal force until we have achieved our objective. The Houthis have choked off shipping in one of the most important Waterways of the World, grinding vast swathes of Global Commerce to a halt, and attacking the core principle of Freedom of Navigation upon which International Trade and Commerce depends."
"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. No terrorist force will stop American commercial and naval vessels from freely sailing the Waterways of the World."
Deputy Head of Ansar Allah's Media Authority Nasruddin Amer wrote on X: "Our position is clear and our demand is simple: lifting the siege on Gaza and saving the people of Gaza from starvation. For this reason, we imposed a siege on the ships of the Zionist enemy."
What Happens Next?
The U.S. carried out strikes on Saturday evening local time, meaning the Houthis will need to determine a response in the coming days. It is not uncommon for Iran to also respond after attacks on its proxies and partners in the region.
The U.S. may carry out further strikes if officials believe it's necessary to drive home their message.
Update, 3/16/25 at 4:05 a.m. ET: This file has been updated with additional information.
Update, 3/16/25 at 8:27 a.m. ET: This file has been updated with additional information.
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