In a major escalation of hostilities, dozens of people have reportedly been killed after United States President Donald Trump ordered a decisive military strike against Houthi rebels in Yemen. The strikes mark a significant new phase in the conflict, as the US targets the Iran-backed group accused of disrupting shipping lanes in the Red Sea.Trump Justifies Military Action Against HouthisPresident Trump defended the military operation, emphasizing that the US would deploy “overwhelming lethal force” against the Houthis until its objectives were fully achieved. He described the strikes as a necessary measure to protect US commercial and naval vessels from what he called an “unrelenting campaign of piracy and terrorism.”According to reports from CNN, the US airstrikes have resulted in the deaths of at least 53 people, with nearly 100 others wounded, including women and children. The Houthi-run health ministry confirmed these casualties to the Associated Press (AP).US Officials Link Strikes to Iran’s Support for HouthisReacting to the development, US National Security Adviser Michael Waltz stated that the strikes were intended to hold Iran accountable for its alleged support of the Houthis and to eliminate key rebel leaders.”This was an overwhelming response,” Waltz said.”The operation was also aimed at holding Iran responsible for backing the Houthis, and it successfully eliminated multiple Houthi leaders.”Houthis Respond with Missile and Drone AttacksFollowing the US strikes, the Houthis retaliated by launching 18 missiles and drones at the American aircraft carrier USS Harry Truman in the northern Red Sea. According to Reuters, the rebel group claimed responsibility for the attack, describing it as a response to US aggression.The situation remains tense, with analysts warning that the conflict could escalate further, drawing in regional and global powers. The US military operation comes at a time of increased tensions in the Middle East, raising concerns about a wider confrontation involving Iran and its allied militias.
