US President Donald Trump confirmed that he ordered a series of airstrikes on parts of Yemen which are held by the Iran-backed militant group the Houthis. As per the latest update, the militant group has stated that over 30 civilians were killed in the US strikes.
Local reports have stated that the death toll has increased to 31. As per Houthi affiliated Al Masirah TV, Anees al-Asbahi, a spokesperson for the health ministry, said that another 101 people were wounded in the overnight strikes.
"Our brave Warfighters are right now carrying out aerial attacks on the terrorists' bases, leaders, and missile defenses to protect American shipping, air, and naval assets, and to restore Navigational Freedom. No terrorist force will stop American commercial and naval vessels from freely sailing the Waterways of the World," Trump stated on social media platform Truth Social.
Based on the Houthis, explosions were reported in Sanaa and the northern province of Saada. This attack comes after the Yemeni group warned of attacking ships in the Red Sea if Israel did not lift its bloackade on humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip.
The US' attacks also come after the Houthis have seized and attacked cargo ships in the Red Sea, especially the ones associated to the US and the UK for their support of Israel after the start of the war in Gaza.
As per the statement from the White House, "Houthi attacks caused approximately 75% of U.S.- and UK-affiliated vessels to reroute around Africa instead of transiting the Red Sea. Traveling around Africa takes an average of ten days longer than sailing through the Red Sea. Additional fuel costs are roughly one million dollars more for each voyage around Africa."
The White House further claimed that the Houthis have attacked US warships 174 times and commercial vessels 145 times since 2023.
