Mon Mar 17 04:47:10 UTC 2025: **US Launches Major Airstrikes in Yemen, Killing Dozens of Houthis; Retaliation Promised**
**Sanaa, Yemen** – The United States launched a series of large-scale airstrikes targeting Houthi rebels in Yemen overnight, resulting in significant casualties and escalating the ongoing conflict. The Houthi-run Health Ministry reported at least 53 deaths, including women and children, and over 100 injuries in Sanaa alone.
President Donald Trump authorized the strikes, citing repeated attacks on international shipping in the Red Sea by the Iran-backed Houthis. He vowed to use “overwhelming lethal force” and warned of devastating consequences if the attacks continued. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the strikes would continue until the Houthis are no longer capable of attacking international vessels. He cited 174 attacks on the US Navy and 145 on commercial shipping over the past 18 months, using guided precision weaponry. These attacks, which had ceased following a Gaza ceasefire in January, resumed last week following Israel’s suspension of humanitarian aid to Gaza.
While National Security Advisor Michael Waltz claimed the strikes eliminated multiple Houthi leaders, no evidence was provided. Rubio confirmed that some Houthi facilities were destroyed.
The Houthis have vehemently condemned the strikes, vowing retaliation and promising escalation. They claim to have launched multiple drone and missile attacks against the USS Harry S. Truman carrier strike group, though the US Navy reported that most were intercepted and the remaining missile fell harmlessly into the water.
Iran, accused by the US of supporting the Houthi attacks, denied any involvement and rejected US attempts to dictate Iranian foreign policy. The escalating situation raises serious concerns about regional stability and the potential for further conflict.
First Piper 