President Trump announced that U.S. military actions will lead to the annihilation of the Iran-backed Houthi group in Yemen, urging Iran to stop its support. Ongoing U.S. airstrikes aim to counter Houthi attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea, amidst a growing regional conflict that has also involved hostilities with Hamas.
On Wednesday, President Donald Trump declared that the U.S. military would “completely annihilate” the Iran-backed Houthi militant group in Yemen, urging Iran to cease its support. His statement was made alongside ongoing U.S. military operations against Houthi positions in response to their attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea.
The president noted, “Tremendous damage has been inflicted,” referring to the military strikes initiated on a recent Saturday. He further stated, “Watch how it will get progressively worse. It’s not even a fair fight, and never will be. They will be completely annihilated!” These military efforts are intended to secure freedom of navigation in the region.
The Houthis have escalated their actions, targeting Israel and attacking vessels in solidarity with Hamas. While they had paused their campaign following a ceasefire with Israel, they threatened to resume hostilities amid ongoing tensions. Trump stated that decisive military actions were ordered against the Houthis, who have been accused of a campaign of violence and piracy funded by Iran.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reiterated the president’s message, asserting that attacks on U.S. ships would not be tolerated. He emphasized that Iran, which supports the Houthis, is under scrutiny. The Houthis claimed to have targeted a U.S. aircraft carrier recently, although U.S. officials dismissed these claims as exaggerated.
Lt. Gen. Alexus G. Grynkewich reported that initial estimates indicated numerous Houthi casualties from the strikes, with no confirmed civilian casualties. Anis al-Asbahi, a Houthi spokesman, contested the reports, claiming higher casualties from the airstrikes. Meanwhile, Sean Parnell from the Defense Department stated that overwhelming force would be employed until the Houthis ceased their assaults on commercial ships.
Since early 2023, the Houthis have reportedly targeted American warships 170 times and commercial vessels 145 times, with past incidents including the seizure of the MV Galaxy Leader. The situation remains ongoing, with U.S. military strategy directed toward ensuring maritime safety in the region.
In summary, President Trump has firmly stated that U.S. military actions shall lead to the complete annihilation of the Houthi militant group in Yemen if they continue their assaults. This declaration accompanies ongoing military strikes targeting Houthi positions, intended to safeguard maritime navigation amid escalating tensions in the Red Sea. The U.S. administration warns Iran to halt its support for the Houthis, while military leaders affirm their strategy aligns with established objectives to eliminate threats against commercial and military vessels.
Original Source: www.nytimes.com
