In a striking escalation of hostilities in the Red Sea, Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels announced on Monday that they had launched attacks against the U.S. aircraft carrier USS Harry Truman and its accompanying vessels within a span of just 24 hours. This action was described by Houthi officials as retaliation for U.S. military operations in Yemen, which they claim have resulted in civilian casualties.
The Houthis reported they fired 18 missiles and deployed a drone aimed at the U.S. carrier group, with a subsequent claim of another round of attacks being launched shortly after. The U.S. government has yet to respond publicly to these claims.
In an official statement shared on Telegram, a spokesperson for the Houthis asserted that their actions were “in retaliation to the continued American aggression against our country.” The spokesperson’s comments come in the wake of recent U.S. airstrikes that reportedly killed 53 individuals, including women and children, and injured 98 others, as per the Houthi health ministry. The strikes had targeted various locations, including accusations of targeting a cotton ginning factory in Hodeida and an Israeli ship that has been held by the Houthis for over a year.
Houthi leader Abdulmalik al-Houthi called for demonstrations across Yemen on Monday in response to the U.S. actions, highlighting the ongoing turmoil in the region. Amidst increasing tensions, the United Nations has appealed to both parties to halt military activities and seek a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
The Houthis, who maintain control over substantial areas of Yemen, have engaged in attacks on Israeli and Red Sea shipping amid the ongoing Gaza conflict, framing their actions as acts of solidarity with the Palestinian cause. Their recent uptick in aggression follows a period of relative quiet since a ceasefire commenced in January, prior to which the group had no reported incidents of strikes in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.
U.S. military operations targeting Houthi positions resumed over the weekend, marking the first such actions since the return of President Donald Trump to the White House. National Security Advisor Michael Waltz confirmed that several high-ranking Houthi leaders were neutralized during the strikes. Trump issued explicit warnings to the Houthis, threatening severe repercussions if the attacks persisted, and demanded that Iran cease its backing of the Houthi forces.
Reports from Sanaa described a powerful explosion that rattled buildings and caused panic among residents. Footage broadcasted by Houthi media depicted the aftermath: injured children and distraught families. Witnesses expressed their shock, with one resident stating he had never witnessed destruction of such magnitude in ten years of warfare in Yemen.
Iran has decried the U.S. airstrikes, with Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi emphasizing that Iran has “no authority” to partake in U.S. foreign policy decisions. As tensions mount, the Houthi political bureau declared its readiness to respond to escalating threats, while also hinting at the potential for further escalatory measures if U.S. actions persist.
The conflict has significantly disrupted maritime trade routes, with recent Houthi attacks contributing to a diversion of vessels around southern Africa—a significant detour for ships operating in a region that typically services 12 percent of global shipping traffic.
The Palestinian group Hamas, a vocal supporter of the Houthis, denounced the U.S. airstrikes as violations of both international law and Yemen’s sovereignty. Meanwhile, the chief of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards stated that while Iran does not seek war, it will respond decisively to any perceived threats.
As fighting between the various factions within Yemen remains ongoing, the humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate, exacerbated by the wide-reaching implications of the ongoing military actions and the historically complex backdrop of the Yemeni conflict that has already cost hundreds of thousands of lives.
