The U.S. attacks on Yemen refer to military operations conducted by the United States and its allies against the Iran-backed Houthi movement in Yemen. Initiated by U.S. President Donald Trump on March 15, 2025, these attacks were carried out in response to Houthi actions targeting maritime transportation in the Red Sea.

_{US attacks on Yemen, February 17, 2025 - US Central Command (CENTCOM)}

The U.S. administration stated that the operations aimed to limit the Houthis' military capabilities and secure trade routes. However, the attacks resulted in significant civilian casualties in Yemen and sparked international criticism.

Background

The Houthis launched an uprising against the central government in Yemen by seizing the capital, Sana’a, in 2014. While they are recognized as an Iran-backed group, the U.S. and its Western allies perceive them as a threat.

Since October 2023, the Houthis had been interfering with maritime transportation in the Red Sea, citing Israel’s attacks on Gaza as justification. They targeted ships linked to the U.S. and Israel in the region. Viewing these actions as a threat to trade routes, the U.S. decided to launch direct military intervention against the Houthis.

_{US attacks on Yemen, February 17, 2025 - US Central Command (CENTCOM)}

Trump’s Military Intervention Decision

On March 15, 2025, President Donald Trump announced his decision to launch a large-scale military operation against the Houthis in Yemen. In a statement on the Truth Social platform, Trump asserted that Houthi attacks on U.S. ships in the Red Sea would not be tolerated and declared that the U.S. would use "lethal force."

On the same day, U.S. warplanes began striking military and infrastructure targets associated with the Houthis in various parts of Yemen. U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth stated in an interview with Fox News that the attacks on the Houthis would continue until they fully disarmed.

On March 17, 2025, Trump claimed that the Houthi attacks were dictated by Iran, declaring that any future attacks carried out by the Houthis would be considered as direct acts by Iran, warranting appropriate retaliation.

In a Truth Social post, Trump stated, “Let nobody be fooled! The hundreds of attacks being made by Houthi, the sinister mobsters and thugs based in Yemen, who are hated by the Yemeni people, all emanate from, and are created by, IRAN. Any further attack or retaliation by the ‘Houthis’ will be met with great force, and there is no guarantee that that force will stop there.”

Airstrikes and Casualties (March 15–18, 2025)

Attacks on Sana’a and Saada

On March 16, 2025, the U.S. and the U.K. launched intense airstrikes on Yemen’s capital, Sana’a, and the northern city of Saada. Houthi-affiliated Al-Masirah TV reported that 31 people, mostly women and children, were killed, while 101 others were injured in the attacks.

Attack on Industrial Facilities in Hudaydah

U.S. airstrikes targeted the Al-Hubashi steel factory in the Bajil district of Hudaydah province in western Yemen, reportedly destroying the facility entirely.

Escalation of Attacks and Rising Death Toll

By March 17, 2025, U.S. airstrikes on Yemen continued, with the Houthis reporting a death toll of 53. The Houthi-controlled Ministry of Health stated that five children had been killed and 98 people were injured in the attacks.

On March 18, 2025, the U.S. launched another airstrike on the Yemeni capital, Sana’a. While the Houthis did not disclose information on casualties or material damage, they strongly condemned the attack.

_{US attacks on Yemen, February 17, 2025 - US Central Command (CENTCOM)}

Houthi Counterattacks

Following the onset of U.S. airstrikes, the Houthis targeted the U.S. aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman and other warships in the Red Sea. On March 16, 2025, Houthi Military Spokesman Yahya Saree announced that they had launched 18 ballistic and cruise missiles, along with a drone, against the U.S. Navy.

International Reactions

U.S. Statements

On March 17, 2025, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated in an interview with CBS News that the strikes against the Houthis were intended to ensure global maritime security, asserting that the U.S. was "doing the world a favor."

U.S. National Security Advisor Michael Waltz confirmed that numerous Houthi leaders had been targeted and that the operations would persist. U.S. State Department Spokesperson Tammy Bruce declared that Houthi attacks on American ships were unacceptable and that the U.S. response strategy had fundamentally changed.

Houthi Response

The Houthi political bureau condemned the U.S. and U.K. attacks on Yemen as war crimes, arguing that they violated international law and pledging to retaliate in kind.

Reactions from Other Countries and International Organizations

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov called for an end to U.S. attacks on Yemen, urging a diplomatic resolution to the conflict. Meanwhile, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres called on all parties to "cease all military activities" in a statement on March 16, 2025.