Escalating Conflict: US Bombardment Targets Houthi Rebels in Yemen Amid Rising Tensions
Houthi rebels in Yemen reported on Wednesday that the United States has executed a new wave of bombings against their positions in multiple cities throughout the region. The attacks, managed by the Iranian-backed Houthi movement, targeted areas including the capital, Sanaa, the outskirts of Saada to the north, and a district in Al Bayda in central Yemen. There were no immediate details on casualties or damage from the strikes, but at least two missiles impacted the Al Jeraf neighborhood in Sanaa, near the airport, with significant columns of smoke observed rising from various parts of the city as emergency services rushed to the scene.
Al Masirah, a media outlet associated with the Houthis, reported that one of the attacks struck a construction site for a celebration hall in the residential Al Thawra district, yet further information was not released.
These bombings came shortly after US President Donald Trump issued a stern warning to Iran, demanding an immediate cessation of support for the Houthis. Trump threatened that the Houthis would face total annihilation unless they halted attacks against Israel and navigation in the Red Sea. He claimed on his social media platform, Truth Social, that the Houthis have suffered extensive damage, reiterating that the situation is likely to deteriorate further.
The recent US airstrikes commenced over the weekend targeting various cities controlled by the Houthis, resulting in over fifty reported fatalities. The rebels indicated last week their intention to resume military operations against Israeli or Israel-linked vessels unless humanitarian aid access to Gaza was granted, following a resumption of large-scale Israeli attacks in the region.
In an escalation of hostilities, the Houthis asserted early Wednesday that they had attacked the US aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman in the Red Sea for the fourth time within 72 hours. On Tuesday, they claimed to have launched a hypersonic ballistic missile at an airbase in Israel.
Trump, whose administration has designated the Shia Houthi rebels as a terrorist organization, has vowed to inflict severe consequences if the rebels continue to threaten international maritime navigation. The US insists that its military actions will persist until the maritime attacks cease, indicating an uncertain future for the already beleaguered region.
Related Sources: