US airstrikes in Yemen kill 31 amid rising tensions with Houthis

US fighter jets launched multiple airstrikes across Yemen, resulting in at least 31 casualties after President Donald Trump warned the Houthis against targeting ships in the Red Sea. The attacks, which mark the most significant military action since Trump’s return to office, followed threats from the Houthis to resume assaults on Israeli-linked vessels in response to Israel’s blockade of Gaza.

The airstrikes, conducted from Saturday night into early Sunday, hit Sanaa, Saada, al-Bayda, and Radaa, leaving 31 dead and 101 injured, with many victims being women and children, according to Yemen’s Ministry of Health. Among those killed in Saada were four children and a woman.

The Houthis condemned the strikes, vowing retaliation and denouncing what they called "US-British aggression." Trump, in a statement on social media, declared that he had ordered the military to launch a decisive offensive against the Houthis, warning Iran to withdraw its support. He promised to use "overwhelming lethal force" until the mission was accomplished.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi criticized the US actions, asserting that Washington had no authority to dictate policies in the region. The Houthis, for their part, dismissed US claims of threats to international shipping as misleading, stating that their naval blockade targeted only Israeli vessels until humanitarian aid was delivered to Gaza.

Yemen’s Houthi forces have conducted over 100 attacks on shipping routes since November 2023, disrupting global trade and triggering costly US military responses. Despite a temporary pause following a Gaza ceasefire, the group remains defiant, sinking two vessels, seizing another, and causing significant disruptions.

Analysts have questioned the effectiveness of Trump’s approach, warning that military intervention may not achieve its objectives. Former US diplomat Nabeel Khoury argued that defeating the Houthis militarily would be extremely difficult given Yemen’s rugged terrain, comparing the situation to Israel’s prolonged struggle against Hamas in Gaza.

Meanwhile, US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth reaffirmed that Houthi attacks on US ships and forces would not be tolerated and put Iran on notice. The US Central Command (CENTCOM) described the strikes as precision operations aimed at protecting American interests and ensuring freedom of navigation in the Red Sea.

Despite Washington’s efforts to counter Houthi aggression, experts warn that military escalation may only further destabilize the region.