A series of United States airstrikes on Houthi-held areas of Yemen has resulted in at least 53 people killed and 98 injured, according to the Houthi health ministry. The airstrikes were ordered by President Donald Trump in response to attacks on shipping vessels by the Houthi rebel group. The group has promised to respond with more escalation in what has become a cycle of violence.
The Houthi stronghold of Sanaa and other areas in Yemen were targeted in the airstrikes, resulting in significant devastation and casualties, mostly women and children according to the rebel spokesperson. The attacks came after the Houthis threatened to resume targeting Israeli vessels sailing off Yemen amid ongoing conflicts in Gaza.
The Houthis are an Iran-backed militia that controls part of Yemen and have been carrying out attacks on shipping in response to the war in Gaza. The Trump administration has warned Iran to stop supporting the Houthi group, while the commander of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps emphasized that the Houthis operate independently.
The ongoing conflict in Yemen has led to a suspension of services in the region by some shippers in response to attacks on merchant vessels. The designation of the Houthis as a foreign terrorist organization was recently reinstated by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, despite concerns about impacting aid delivery to Yemen.
With a trillion-dollar flow of goods passing through the Red Sea annually, the violence in Yemen poses a significant threat to maritime security in the region. The situation remains volatile as the Houthis continue their operations in response to the airstrikes.
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