Former US President Donald Trump on Saturday announced a large-scale military offensive against Yemen’s Houthi rebels, accusing them of piracy, terrorism, and disrupting global trade. His announcement comes nearly two weeks after the US redesignated the Houthis as a foreign terrorist organization.
“Today, I have ordered the United States Military to launch decisive and powerful military action against the Houthi terrorists in Yemen. They have waged an unrelenting campaign of piracy, violence, and terrorism against American, and other, ships, aircraft, and drones,” Trump stated on his Truth Social platform.
Trump declared that the US would deploy “overwhelming lethal force” to counter the Houthis, whom he accused of obstructing crucial trade routes, including the Suez Canal, the Red Sea, and the Gulf of Aden. He emphasized that these disruptions have severely impacted global commerce and challenged the principle of Freedom of Navigation.
“The Houthi attack on American vessels will not be tolerated. We will use overwhelming lethal force until we have achieved our objective. The Houthis have choked off shipping in one of the most important waterways of the world, grinding vast swaths of global commerce to a halt, and attacking the core principle of Freedom of Navigation upon which international trade and commerce depend,” Trump stated.
In a scathing critique of former President Joe Biden’s handling of the situation, Trump blamed Biden’s “weak” response for emboldening the Houthis, leading to continued attacks on US military and commercial vessels. He claimed these assaults have cost the US and the global economy “billions of dollars.”
“Joe Biden’s response was pathetically weak, so the unrestrained Houthis just kept going. 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. The last American warship to go through the Red Sea, four months ago, was attacked by the Houthis over a dozen times. Funded by Iran, the Houthi thugs have fired missiles at U.S. aircraft, and targeted our troops and allies,” Trump said.
He confirmed that US forces were conducting aerial strikes on Houthi bases, leaders, and missile defenses to protect American assets and restore freedom of navigation in the region.
“No terrorist force will stop American commercial and naval vessels from freely sailing the waterways of the world,” he asserted.
Trump also issued a stern warning to Iran, demanding an immediate halt to its support for the Houthis. He threatened severe consequences if Iran continued backing the rebels.
“To Iran: Support for the Houthi terrorists must end IMMEDIATELY! Do NOT threaten the American people, their President, who has received one of the largest mandates in Presidential history, or worldwide shipping lanes,” he warned.
“If you do, BEWARE, because America will hold you fully accountable, and we won’t be nice about it!” Trump added.
Trump’s declaration signals a major escalation in US military involvement in Yemen, raising concerns over broader regional tensions.