Iran-backed Houthis Vow Retaliation After US Strikes

Houthi rebels in Yemen have vowed retaliation after US military strikes killed at least 31 people and injured more than 100 others over the weekend, NBC News reported.

On Saturday, the US launched the strikes in response to the Houthis’ renewed threats to attack international shipping in the Red Sea in response to Israel’s latest blockade on the Gaza Strip, which has halted the flow of aid into the Palestinian enclave.

The Iran-backed group – which has taken over part of Yemen – has launched attacks against shipping vessels crossing the Red Sea and other nearby waters since the war in Gaza between Israel and Hamas began in October 2023.

Houthis had previously suspended those attacks in January following a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel, the Wall Street Journal added. That ceasefire expired earlier this month.

Saturday’s strikes targeted Houthi military infrastructure in the capital, Sanaa, and strongholds in Saada and Taiz. The group’s political bureau condemned the attack as a “war crime” and declared that its forces were “fully prepared to respond to escalation with escalation.”

US President Donald Trump has accused the Houthis of waging “an unrelenting campaign of piracy, violence, and terrorism” against American and allied vessels.

He also warned Iran to “immediately” end its support for the group or face consequences.

Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi rejected Trump’s accusations, saying the US has “no authority or business dictating Iranian foreign policy.”

The head of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Hossein Salami, insisted that Tehran was not directing Houthi operations – but warned of a response if Iran itself were targeted.

The strikes mark the start of a broader military campaign, with a US defense official noting that additional actions are planned over the coming weeks.

The US decision to strike came after the Houthis claimed responsibility for shooting down an American MQ-9 Reaper drone last week and pledged to “expand operations” against US and Israel-linked ships.

Meanwhile, Russia and Iran have called for an immediate cessation of hostilities. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov urged diplomatic de-escalation, while the Kremlin’s statement emphasized that “the use of force in Yemen must stop immediately.”

Security analysts suggested that the US campaign could destabilize the Houthis but may not eliminate their capabilities without ground intervention.