IRIA News

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The U.S. Army CENTCOM launched a series of powerful precision strikes against Houthi forces in Yemen, following months of attacks on commercial and military vessels in the Red Sea. According to Houthi sources, the strikes killed at least 32 people, including children.

U.S. President Donald Trump described the strikes as “decisive and powerful,” emphasizing that the U.S. would continue using “overwhelming lethal force” until the threat posed by the Houthi’s group was neutralized.

The Houthis, who have been targeting international shipping since November 2023, claim their attacks are in support of Palestinians amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas war in Gaza. Despite multiple rounds of Western airstrikes and naval interventions, the group has remained undeterred, forcing major shipping companies to reroute vessels around Africa and disrupting global trade flows.

A devastating assault

The latest U.S. airstrikes, conducted on the evening of March 15, 2025, targeted key Houthi military sites in the Yemeni capital, Sanaa, and the northern province of Saada. Both locations are known as the group’s stronghold near the Saudi border.

The Yemen’s health ministry reported that at least 32 people were killed and 101 others injured. Explosions were seen across Sanaa, with unverified images showing plumes of black smoke rising over the city’s airport, which houses a military facility.

Blaming the U.S. and the U.K. for what it called “wicked aggression,” the Houthis vowed retaliation, asserting that their military forces would respond with further attacks on Red Sea shipping. Houthi sources stated that their strikes would continue until Israel lifted its blockade on Gaza.

Trump’s Warning

President Trump did not mince words in his response, taking to social media to issue a stark warning to the Houthis and their backers in Tehran. “Funded by Iran, the Houthi thugs have fired missiles at U.S. aircraft and targeted our Troops and Allies,” he posted.

"To all Houthi terrorists, YOUR TIME IS UP…" –President Donald J. Trump pic.twitter.com/P4qwgyDs8c

— President Donald J. Trump (@POTUS) March 15, 2025

Trump said, “Their piracy, violence, and terrorism have cost billions and put lives at risk. We will use overwhelming lethal force until we have achieved our objective.” Addressing the Houthis directly, Trump warned: “HELL WILL RAIN DOWN UPON YOU LIKE NOTHING YOU HAVE EVER SEEN BEFORE.”

He also turned his attention to Iran, which has long provided financial and military support to the Houthis, cautioning Tehran against continued involvement. “We will hold Tehran fully accountable, and we won’t be nice about it,” he stated.

The Houthi threat in the Red Sea

Since November 2023, Houthi forces have launched dozens of missiles, drones, and small boat attacks on commercial and military vessels in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. Their campaign has resulted in the sinking of two ships, the seizure of another, and the deaths of four crew members.

The attacks have forced global shipping companies to abandon the crucial maritime trade route through the Suez Canal, instead opting for a far longer and costlier route around the southern tip of Africa. The Suez Canal is one of the most vital waterways in global trade, particularly for the transportation of oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG).

Trump underscored the severity of the situation, noting that it had been more than a year since a U.S.-flagged ship had safely navigated the Suez Canal. He further revealed that no American warships had passed through the Red Sea in four months, citing the persistent danger posed by Houthi attacks.

CENTCOM Forces Launch Large Scale Operation Against Iran-Backed Houthis in Yemen

On March 15, U.S. Central Command initiated a series of operations consisting of precision strikes against Iran-backed Houthi targets across Yemen to defend American interests, deter enemies, and… pic.twitter.com/u5yx8WneoG

— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) March 15, 2025

International reactions

The international community remains divided over the escalating conflict. The UK provided refueling support for U.S. aircraft but did not participate in the strikes. Meanwhile, Israel has conducted its airstrikes against the Houthis since July, citing the 400 missiles and drones fired from Yemen toward Israeli territory.

Russia, which has sought to position itself as a mediator, urged restraint. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov emphasized “the need for an immediate cessation of the use of force” and called for “political dialogue to prevent further bloodshed,” according to the Russian foreign ministry.

However, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio rejected the idea of de-escalation without first securing an end to Houthi aggression. Speaking with Lavrov on Saturday, Rubio reiterated that “continued Houthi attacks on U.S. military and commercial shipping vessels in the Red Sea will not be tolerated.”

Iran denounced the U.S. strikes. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi accused Washington of having “no authority, or business, dictating Iranian foreign policy,” and called for an end to what he described as Western-backed “genocide and terrorism” in Gaza.

Extended engagement

Despite U.S. and allied airstrikes, the Houthis have shown no signs of backing down. Their ability to continue launching attacks, despite repeated strikes on military infrastructure, raises concerns that Iran may be resupplying them with weapons and intelligence.

The Biden administration previously sought to de-escalate tensions with the Houthis, but with Trump now firmly committed to a harder stance, the likelihood of prolonged U.S. military engagement in Yemen is increasing. With the region already on edge due to conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine, the risk of a wider war involving Iran, Israel, and other regional actors is growing.

The global economic implications of this conflict are also severe. With the Red Sea effectively off-limits to commercial shipping, energy prices could rise, and supply chain disruptions may intensify. The longer the crisis persists, the greater the impact on trade-dependent economies.