US large-scale attack on Yemen kills dozens

The United States launched a large-scale airstrike against the Houthi rebels in Yemen last Saturday, resulting in dozens of casualties. The U.S. President warned that if the Houthis do not stop attacking international shipping, they will face "a hellish blow." This reflects a heightened level of tension and potential for further escalation in the region.

Yemeni Ministry of Health spokesman Anis al-Asbahi said on Sunday that the airstrikes had killed at least 31 people and injured 101 others, most of whom were women and children. According to Yemeni media reports, two houses were hit in an attack in the northern province of Saada, killing four children and one woman. Videos shared by local media showed some children and a woman receiving treatment in a hospital emergency room, highlighting the devastating impact on civilians.

The attack is the largest U.S. military operation in the Middle East since Donald Trump took office as president. A U.S. official told Reuters that the attacks on Yemen could last for weeks. Trump vowed on social media to use "unprecedented overwhelming deadly force" until the Houthis stop attacking shipping in vital maritime corridors, signaling a firm stance against the group's actions.

Since 2023, the Houthis have launched multiple drone and missile attacks on ships in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, claiming they are acting in solidarity with Palestinians suffering from Israeli attacks in Gaza. This action has severely affected shipping routes, which usually handle about 12% of global shipping traffic, forcing many companies to choose to detour around southern Africa, incurring high costs, and disrupting global trade.

The Houthi Political Bureau described the attack as a "war crime." In a statement, they said, "Our Yemeni armed forces are fully prepared to respond to escalation with escalation." Airstrikes were reported in the capital Sanaa, as well as in the provinces of Bayda and Rada'a. According to local media and witnesses, the U.S. military also attacked Houthi military bases in the southwestern city of Taiz, and a power plant in the town of Dahyan in Saada province, causing power outages, further impacting the civilian population.

Trump also issued a warning to Iran, demanding that it immediately stop supporting the Houthis. He said that if Iran threatens the United States, "the United States will hold you fully accountable, and we will not be kind." In response, Hossein Salami, the top commander of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, responded on Sunday that the Houthis operate independently and make their own strategic and operational decisions, denying direct control.

Salami said through state media: "We warn our enemies that if they put their threats into action, Iran will respond decisively and devastatingly." Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi posted on X, calling on the United States to stop attacking Yemen and saying that Washington cannot dictate Iran's foreign policy, indicating a strong disagreement and potential for further diplomatic tensions.