President Donald Trump launched large-scale airstrikes against Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels on Saturday, vowing to put an end to their attacks on international shipping in the Red Sea. The strikes, which killed at least 24 people, mark the most significant U.S. military operation in the Middle East since Trump took office in January.

In a fiery Truth Social post, Trump declared that he had “ordered the United States Military to launch decisive and powerful Military action against the Houthi terrorists in Yemen,” calling them a threat to American and global security. “They have waged an unrelenting campaign of piracy, violence, and terrorism against American, and other, ships, aircraft, and drones,” he wrote.

Trump also blamed his predecessor, former President Joe Biden, for not acting aggressively against the Houthis. “Biden’s response was pathetically weak, so the unrestrained Houthis just kept going,” he wrote. “It has been over a year since a U.S.-flagged commercial ship safely sailed through the Suez Canal, the Red Sea, or the Gulf of Aden.” He warned the Houthis directly: “YOUR TIME IS UP, AND YOUR ATTACKS MUST STOP, STARTING TODAY. IF THEY DON’T, HELL WILL RAIN DOWN UPON YOU LIKE NOTHING YOU HAVE EVER SEEN BEFORE!”

Casualties and Widespread Strikes

At least 13 civilians were reported killed and nine others wounded in airstrikes on Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, according to the Houthi-controlled health ministry. Another 11 people, including four children and a woman, died in an attack in Saada province, Houthi-run Al-Masirah TV reported. The strikes also hit a power station in Dahyan, a known meeting location for Houthi leader Abdul Malik al-Houthi, causing a blackout in the area.

Residents described the attacks as devastating. “The explosions were violent and shook the neighborhood like an earthquake. They terrified our women and children,” said Abdullah Yahia, a Sanaa resident.

A U.S. official told Reuters that the military campaign is expected to last weeks, targeting Houthi infrastructure across Yemen. The strikes were carried out in part by fighter jets from the USS Harry S. Truman, currently deployed in the Red Sea.

Iran Warned as U.S. Escalates Response

Trump also put Iran—the Houthis’ main sponsor—on notice, warning that any further support for the group would have consequences. “If Iran threatens the United States, America will hold you fully accountable, and we won’t be nice about it!” he stated.

A Pentagon spokesperson revealed that since 2023, the Houthis have launched 174 attacks on U.S. warships and 145 attacks on commercial vessels in the region. The group says its actions are in solidarity with Palestinians amid the Israel-Gaza conflict.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi condemned the U.S. airstrikes, accusing Washington of fueling conflict in the region. “End support for Israeli genocide and terrorism. Stop killing of Yemeni people,” Araqchi wrote on X.

Meanwhile, Secretary of State Marco Rubio informed Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov about the strikes, signaling potential diplomatic maneuvering as the U.S. pressures Iran while also engaging with Moscow.

Houthis Vow Retaliation

Despite the strikes, the Houthis remain defiant. “Our Yemeni armed forces are fully prepared to respond to escalation with escalation,” the group’s political bureau said. The Houthis also announced plans to resume attacks on Israeli-linked ships in the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, and Arabian Sea, following a temporary pause after the Gaza ceasefire in January.

Geopolitical Tensions and Nuclear Talks

The U.S. military action comes just days after a letter from Trump to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was delivered, seeking negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program. Khamenei swiftly rejected the offer.

Western intelligence agencies warn that Iran is accelerating uranium enrichment, bringing it closer to weapons-grade levels. While Iran denies pursuing nuclear weapons, U.S. and European officials say there is no civilian justification for such high levels of enrichment.

As tensions rise, Trump has signaled a willingness to escalate military operations if necessary. “The Houthi attack on American vessels will not be tolerated. We will use overwhelming lethal force until we have achieved our objective,” he declared.

With the strikes underway and further escalation possible, the situation in the Middle East remains volatile, with global shipping, regional security, and U.S.-Iran relations all hanging in the balance.