The US has vowed to keep striking Yemen’s Houthis until they stop attacks on shipping, as the Iran-aligned group signalled potential escalation following US airstrikes that reportedly killed at least 31 people.
The US launched a series of airstrikes on Yemen, targeting Houthi military sites in Sanaa and Taiz. The strikes, which the Houthi-run health ministry said killed 31 people, mark the largest US military operation in the Middle East since Donald Trump took office. A US official told Reuters the campaign could continue for weeks.
Houthi officials condemned the strikes as a "war crime" and vowed to respond. The group's military spokesperson claimed they had launched ballistic missiles and drones at the USS Harry S. Truman in the Red Sea, though the US denied the claim.
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated: “The minute the Houthis say we'll stop shooting at your ships, we'll stop shooting at your drones. This campaign will be unrelenting until then.” He blamed Iran for supporting the Houthis, warning that “they better back off.”
The Houthis, who control large parts of Yemen, had previously threatened to target Israeli-linked ships in response to the Gaza conflict. They intensified attacks on Red Sea shipping after the Israel-Hamas war escalated in late 2023.
Iran’s top commander, Hossein Salami, dismissed US accusations, stating that the Houthis act independently. However, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio insisted Iran was responsible for supplying the group with military support.
Moscow urged Washington to halt the strikes, with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov calling for diplomatic dialogue. Meanwhile, reports emerged of civilian casualties, including women and children, though Reuters could not independently verify the claims.
US strikes also hit a power station in Dahyan, a site linked to Houthi leader Abdul Malik al-Houthi. Residents in Sanaa described the impact as "violent," with footage showing rescue operations and damaged buildings.
The Houthi attacks on shipping have disrupted global trade, forcing the US to engage in costly defensive operations. The group had paused its attacks following an Israel-Hamas ceasefire in January but resumed threats on March 12, linking their actions to aid restrictions on Gaza.
Yemen warned the Houthis were seeking to replicate Iran's Strait of Hormuz strategy in the Red Sea, as U.S. President Donald Trump said there was a "g...
U.S. diplomats walked out of a UN Security Council meeting on Ukraine after accusing France of making "disingenuous grandstanding" by comparing Washin...
Moscow should stop linking Russia-Armenia relations to Azerbaijan, Baku's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Aykhan Hajizada has said, after Russia again r...
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday that there is a good chance” of reaching a deal with Iran, but warned that Washington would resume military operation if negotiations fail.
Iran will halt its own attacks as long as the United States maintains its pause on strikes, but Tehran remains sceptical of U.S. intentions, a senior Iranian source told on Sunday.
The Russia-Ukraine war is increasingly reshaping the Caspian region. From threats to energy infrastructure to renewed diplomatic efforts, countries across the region are adapting to the wider consequences of a conflict that continues to disrupt trade, transport and security.
A New York school district has put plans to introduce a humanoid robot into classrooms on hold after fierce criticism from teachers, Indigenous community members and state education officials over the use of artificial intelligence in schools.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed laws introducing stricter financial requirements for foreign workers, as Moscow continues to tighten migration controls affecting millions of labour migrants, particularly from Central Asia.
U.S. diplomats walked out of a UN Security Council meeting on Ukraine after accusing France of making "disingenuous grandstanding" by comparing Washington with North Korea, Russia and other authoritarian states.
Meteorologists in China have used a swarm of drones to observe Typhoon Noul as it passed through Guangdong province, aiming to improve weather monitoring and forecasting during extreme storms.
Tehran has stressed that its commercial vessel hit by a Ukrainian drone in the Caspian Sea on Saturday was carrying only civilian cargo and vowed to respond appropriately while holding Kyiv responsible for the attack.
Since 1946, nine people have served as UN Secretary-General, the closest thing the world has to a chief diplomat. The role carries no army and little hard power, yet its occupants have shaped how nations respond to war, famine and global crises. Here are five who left the deepest mark.
Two shallow earthquakes hit a remote area of China's Qinghai province on Tuesday, with authorities reporting no casualties or collapsed buildings so far.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment