Washington, DC – Donald Trump has once again demanded that Iran cease its backing of the Houthis, promising that the Yemeni group will be defeated by the United States.
The US president’s remarks on Wednesday came after the Houthis claimed responsibility for attacks on American warships in the Red Sea region and a missile strike against Israel.
During the night, the US also carried out airstrikes on Houthi strongholds in Yemen, including the capital, Sanaa.
This month, the US has launched multiple rounds of attacks against the Houthis, who control Sanaa and claim to be the country’s official armed forces.
Since 2023, the Houthis have been targeting ships in and around the Red Sea and launching missiles at Israel in an attempt, they say, to pressure the Israeli government to halt the conflict in Gaza.
While the group paused their Red Sea attacks during the Gaza ceasefire, they resumed them earlier this month in response to Israel’s blockade on humanitarian aid to the Palestinian territory.
The Houthis also resumed direct military operations against Israel after the Israeli military broke a two-month ceasefire, resulting in the deaths of hundreds of Palestinians this week.
The previous administration of US President Joe Biden also carried out airstrikes on Houthi positions in Yemen, but Washington’s efforts did not halt the group’s attacks.
In his social media post on Wednesday, Trump referred to “reports” suggesting that Iran is reducing its support for the Houthis but is still “sending significant amounts of supplies.”
Trump had previously warned Iran of consequences if it did not rein in the Houthis.
While the Houthis – officially known as Ansar Allah – are aligned with Iran, it is unclear the extent to which they depend on Iranian support or whether Tehran can instruct them to cease their attacks.
However, Trump has portrayed the Houthis as an extension of the Iranian government.
Meanwhile, the Houthis have disregarded the US threats and airstrikes, vowing to continue their attacks until Israel ends its offensive in Gaza.
Trump designated the Houthis as a “foreign terrorist organization” early in his presidency this year. The Biden administration had categorized the group as “specially designated global terrorists” – a slightly lower designation with fewer restrictions.
