
Trump announces “decisive and powerful” military action against Houthi rebels in Yemen

US President Donald Trump on Saturday (local time) announced “decisive and powerful” military action against Yemen’s Houthi rebels, accusing them of piracy, violence, and terrorism targeting Americans. This comes nearly a fortnight after the US redesignated the Houthi rebels 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 wrote on his Truth Social media platform.
Trump said the US would use “overwhelming lethal force” against the Houthis, accusing them of disrupting transportation through the Suez Canal, the Red Sea, and the Gulf of Aden. He emphasized that these actions have severely affected trade and commerce while also violating 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.
He criticized former President Joe Biden’s “weak” response against the Houthis, arguing that it emboldened them to continue their attacks on US military and commercial ships, causing significant economic damage.
“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. These relentless assaults have cost the U.S. and the world economy billions of dollars while, at the same time, putting innocent lives at risk,” Trump said.
The president confirmed that the US is carrying out “aerial attacks on the terrorists’ bases, leaders, and missile defenses” to protect American shipping, air, and naval assets while restoring navigational freedom.
“No terrorist force will stop American commercial and naval vessels from freely sailing the waterways of the world,” Trump declared.
He also issued a direct warning to Iran, demanding an immediate end to its support for the Houthis and threatening severe consequences if it continues.
“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,” Trump warned.
“If you do, BEWARE, because America will hold you fully accountable, and we won’t be nice about it!” he added.
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