A “decisive and overwhelming” strike against Houthis!
Washington, Mar. 15 (EFE).-
The United States President Donald Trump announced a “decisive and overwhelming” military strike against the Houthis in Yemen on Saturday, citing their attacks on international shipping. He also warned Iran to “immediately” cease its support for the rebel group.
Trump stated that he had ordered the US Armed Forces to launch the operation, arguing that the Houthis had been waging a “relentless campaign of piracy, violence, and terrorism against American and international vessels, aircraft, and drones.”
“Our brave fighters are carrying out airstrikes against terrorist bases, leaders, and missile defenses to protect US maritime, aerial, and naval assets and restore freedom of navigation,” he declared on his social media platform, Truth Social.
Civilian casualties reported in Yemen
At least nine people were killed and another nine injured in the attacks on Houthi positions in Sana’a, Yemen’s capital, according to the insurgent-controlled Ministry of Health.
According to Yemen’s Al Masirah television this “American-British aggression” took place against a residential neighborhood in the district of Al Shuub and residents told EFE that a house was the target of this action.
British authorities have made no comment on the attacks, while Trump dismissed concerns about collateral damage stating that “no terrorist force will prevent American commercial and naval vessels from sailing freely through the world’s waterways.”
He then issued a direct warning to the Houthis: “YOUR TIME IS UP. YOUR ATTACKS MUST STOP TODAY! IF NOT, HELL WILL RAIN DOWN ON YOU LIKE NEVER BEFORE!”
Escalating tensions with Iran
The president vowed that the US would deploy “overwhelming lethal force” until its objectives were met.
“The Houthis have blocked shipping in one of the world’s most vital waterways, crippling vast sections of global trade and attacking the fundamental principle of freedom of navigation, on which international commerce depends,” he said.
Trump also criticized his predecessor, Joe Biden (2021-2025), calling his response to the crisis “pathetically weak”. He blamed Biden’s policies for enabling the Houthis to continue their actions, costing billions of dollars and endangering innocent lives.
In a direct message to Iran, Trump warned: “Support for Houthi terrorists must STOP IMMEDIATELY! Do not threaten the US people, their president (…), or global trade routes. If you do, BEWARE! The United States will hold you accountable, and we will not be gentle about it.”
The Iran-backed Houthi insurgents have launched hundreds of attacks against Israel and commercial shipping in the Red Sea and Arabian Sea since the outbreak of war in Gaza on Oct. 7, 2023. They claim their attacks are in response to what they describe as Israel’s massacre of Palestinians. EFE
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