Dozens of people have been reported killed after US President Donald Trump ordered βdecisiveβ military action against Houthi rebels in Yemen, opening a new salvo against the Iran-backed group that has targeted shipping lanes in the Red Sea.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said the US would deploy βoverwhelming lethal forceβ against the Houthis βuntil we have achieved our objective,β signaling the start of a major operation that could last weeks and prompting the Houthis to warn of escalation.
The US strikes killed at least 31 people and injured 101 others in Yemen, mostly women and children, the Houthi-run health ministry said.
The Iranian-aligned Houthi rebels, based in Yemen, started launching drone and missile strikes on vessels in the Red Sea in late 2023 in what they say is revenge for Israelβs war in Gaza. The sustained strikes significantly impacted global trade.
The Houthis stopped their attacks when a Gaza ceasefire was declared in January, but have since threatened to resume them due to Israeli aid blockages to Gaza.
In his post, Trump accused the group of waging βan unrelenting campaign of piracy, violence, and terrorism against American, and other, ships, aircraft, and drones.β
#BREAKING Missile From Yemen Strikes Egyptβs Sinai Near Sharm el-Sheikh
— War Intel (@warintel4u) March 16, 2025
A missile launched from Yemen hit Egyptβs Sinai Peninsula near the resort city of Sharm el-Sheikh.
The IDF is investigating whether Israel was the intended target but has not yet confirmed it.
The strike⦠https://t.co/Ks9mFBH8Tj pic.twitter.com/xJY8T3OY1F