US, Mar 16, 2025: At least 24 people were killed as the United States launched large-scale airstrikes on Yemen, with President Donald Trump issuing a stern warning to the Iran-aligned Houthi group, declaring, "their time is up." Trump also called on Iran to "immediately" cease its support for the Houthis.
Residents in the targeted areas described the strikes as devastating. "The explosions were violent and shook the neighborhood like an earthquake. They terrified our women and children," a resident told Reuters.
The Houthi political bureau condemned the strikes as a "war crime" and declared that Yemeni armed forces are "fully prepared to respond to escalation with escalation."
The Houthis, an armed movement that has gained control over most of Yemen in the past decade, have intensified attacks on ships in the Red Sea since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas conflict in October 2023. These attacks, according to the Houthis, are acts of solidarity with Palestinians amid the ongoing war in Gaza, further disrupting global commerce.
The strikes mark the first major military action in Yemen since Donald Trump assumed office in January. The escalation underscores the volatile interplay of regional conflicts and global tensions involving Iran, Yemen, and the broader Middle East.