The United States launched extensive air and naval strikes on targets in Yemen controlled by the Iran-backed Houthi militia, aiming to restore security to international shipping routes in the Red Sea. President Donald Trump announced the operation, marking the most significant military action of his second term.
Targeting Militant Infrastructure
The strikes targeted radar systems, air defenses, and missile and drone facilities, which had been used by the Houthis to disrupt maritime trade. U.S. officials confirmed that at least one senior Houthi commander was among those targeted. The Biden administration had previously conducted similar operations but was unable to fully stabilize the region.
Trump emphasized the broader implications of the operation, stating: «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.»
Strategic Message to Iran
The strikes also served as a warning to Iran amid ongoing nuclear negotiations.
Trump addressed Tehran directly, saying: «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. If you do, BEWARE, because America will hold you fully accountable.»
Officials indicated that the military campaign could continue for several weeks, depending on the response from Houthi forces. U.S. intelligence has faced challenges in locating and neutralizing Houthi arsenals, many of which are hidden in underground facilities or supplied by Iran.
Rising Tensions in the Region
Since October 2023, Houthi forces have carried out over 100 attacks on commercial and military vessels in the Red Sea. These actions largely subsided following a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas in January but resumed after Israel imposed a blockade on aid to Gaza in March. The Houthis claimed these attacks were a response to that blockade.
Trump reiterated the U.S. stance on further aggression, declaring: «To all Houthi terrorists, YOUR TIME IS UP, AND YOUR ATTACKS MUST STOP, STARTING TODAY.»
High-Level Discussions and Execution
The decision to launch the strikes followed a series of high-level meetings at the White House involving Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, National Security Adviser Michael Waltz, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Gen. Michael E. Kurilla, head of U.S. Central Command. Trump approved the operation on March 15.
The strikes were carried out using fighter jets from the aircraft carrier Harry S. Truman, positioned in the northern Red Sea, along with Air Force attack aircraft and drones from regional bases. Unlike previous military responses under the Biden administration, this operation was conducted solely by U.S. forces.
Impact on Global Trade
Despite previous U.S.-led counterstrikes, the Houthis have continued disrupting Red Sea shipping lanes, forcing many vessels to reroute around southern Africa. This has increased costs and logistical challenges for global trade. Military officials have suggested that the ongoing campaign will target a broader range of Houthi assets over an extended period.
Future Military Strategy
Some senior officials advocate for an intensified campaign that could weaken the Houthis’ control in northern Yemen. However, Trump has not authorized such a strategy, maintaining his position of avoiding deeper military entanglements in the Middle East.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has urged Trump to approve a joint U.S.-Israel strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities. While Israel previously conducted airstrikes that degraded Iran’s air defense infrastructure, Trump has refrained from expanding U.S. involvement.
Uncertain Outlook
The effectiveness of the latest strikes remains uncertain. Previous operations against the Houthis under different administrations have struggled to prevent further attacks.
Trump has framed this new campaign as a decisive shift, stating: «Joe Biden’s response was pathetically weak, so the unrestrained Houthis just kept going. The Houthi attack on American vessels will not be tolerated. We will use overwhelming lethal force until we have achieved our objective.»
While the Houthis have faced military opposition for over eight years, their ability to continue engaging in conflict suggests that additional challenges lie ahead for the U.S. in securing Red Sea trade routes.
