Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that U.S. airstrikes on Houthi rebels are protecting global shipping and U.S. military interests. The campaign, based on President Trump’s directive, aims to eliminate the group’s attack capabilities. Rubio emphasized the strikes as a significant effort, distinguishing them from previous retaliatory actions. The campaign will persist until the Houthis can no longer threaten international waters.
On Sunday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio affirmed that United States airstrikes against Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen are aimed at neutralizing their capacity to target global shipping and threaten U.S. military forces. Rubio stated, “We’re doing the entire world a favor by getting rid of these guys and their ability to strike global shipping.” He emphasized that this mission will persist until it is successfully accomplished.
The airstrikes, announced by President Trump on Saturday, involve employing “overwhelming lethal force” to ensure the Houthis halt their attacks on maritime vessels. U.S. Central Command confirmed these operations and expressed readiness to extend this campaign in response to any actions taken by the Houthis and Iran, according to a CBS News report.
In January, Trump signed an executive order re-designating the Houthis as a foreign terrorist organization. This followed an earlier designation in 2021 that was revoked by President Biden, citing humanitarian concerns. Nevertheless, the Biden administration later classified the Houthis as a “Specially Designated Global Terror Group” in 2024.
The recent airstrikes were executed amid ongoing disruptions caused by the Houthis, who threatened to resume attacks on Israeli vessels in retaliation for Israel’s blockade on aid to Gaza. Rubio remarked that unlike past responses by the Biden administration to such aggressions, these strikes represent a sustained effort rather than an isolated action. “This is not a message,” he clarified, “This is an effort to deny them the ability to continue to constrict and control shipping.”
In reflecting on the actions of the Houthis, Rubio revealed that over the past 18 months, they had attacked 174 U.S. naval vessels and 145 commercial ships. He described the situation as being akin to dealing with a group of pirates equipped with precise weaponry, asserting that such behavior in critical shipping lanes is unacceptable.
Rubio indicated that the ongoing campaign will persist until the Houthis are completely stripped of their military capabilities. He noted the absence of any plans for ground operations at this time, suggesting that the current airstrike strategy is sufficient. As of the latest updates, he reported that some significant individuals involved in missile attacks had been eliminated and that critical facilities of the Houthis had been destroyed. Rubio asserted, “We’re not going to have people sitting around with the missiles attacking the U.S. Navy. It’s not going to happen. Not under President Trump.”
In summary, Secretary of State Marco Rubio has articulated that the U.S. airstrikes on Iran-backed Houthi rebels serve a vital global safety purpose by neutralizing threats to maritime shipping and military forces. The operation is intended to be prolonged until the Houthis are fully incapacitated, and it marks a strategic shift from previous administrations’ responses to such hostilities. The continued commitment to this campaign highlights the U.S. stance against international maritime threats posed by the Houthis, emphasizing a decisive and sustained military approach.
Original Source: www.cbsnews.com
