The United States will continue targeting Yemen’s Houthi rebels until they cease attacks on global shipping, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Sunday. His statement came after a deadly wave of U.S. airstrikes killed at least 53 people.
The Iran-aligned Houthis responded by vowing to escalate their attacks on U.S. vessels in the Red Sea. Houthi leader Abdul Malik al-Houthi declared that his group would retaliate as long as Washington maintained its offensive. “If they continue their aggression, we will continue the escalation,” he said in a televised address.
The Houthi movement’s political bureau condemned the attacks as a “war crime,” while Moscow called on Washington to halt the strikes.
US Strikes and Rising Casualties
The U.S. airstrikes, described as part of an “unrelenting” campaign, targeted multiple Houthi military sites across Yemen, including locations in the capital, Sanaa, and the city of Taiz. The Houthi-run health ministry reported that five children and two women were among the casualties, with nearly 100 others injured.
Residents of Sanaa described violent explosions that shook their neighborhoods, with some areas left in ruins. “The explosions were violent and shook the neighborhood like an earthquake. They terrified our women and children,” said Abdullah Yahia, a local resident.
Houthis Target US Warships
In response to the airstrikes, the Houthis claimed—without evidence—that they had launched ballistic missiles and drones at the USS Harry S. Truman and other U.S. warships in the Red Sea. However, U.S. officials confirmed that warplanes intercepted and destroyed 11 Houthi drones on Sunday, preventing any direct hits on American assets.
“This campaign will end when the Houthis stop attacking our ships,” Hegseth stated. “Until then, it will be unrelenting.” He added that the strikes were intended to restore freedom of navigation in the Red Sea, a crucial global trade route.
Global Reactions and Calls for Restraint
Iran, a key backer of the Houthis, issued a stern warning to the U.S. against further escalation. Iranian Revolutionary Guards commander Hossein Salami stated, “We warn our enemies that Iran will respond decisively and destructively if they carry out their threats.”
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres called for immediate de-escalation, warning that continued hostilities could worsen Yemen’s humanitarian crisis. Meanwhile, Russia urged the U.S. to halt its military actions, with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stressing the need for diplomatic solutions.
Red Sea Crisis Disrupts Global Trade
Houthi attacks on shipping have severely disrupted global commerce, forcing major shipping companies to reroute vessels. The group previously launched dozens of attacks on commercial ships following the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war in late 2023, claiming solidarity with Gaza.
The Houthis had paused their offensive during a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in January. However, they recently resumed threats against Israeli-linked vessels, demanding unrestricted aid deliveries into Gaza.
As tensions rise, the U.S. military remains on high alert in the Red Sea, bracing for further retaliation from the Houthis.