The White House has claimed that several leaders of the Iran-backed Houthi rebel group in Yemen were killed in a recent U.S. attack. In a statement on Sunday, the White House said Tehran had been warned to stop supporting the Houthis and their attacks on shipping in the Red Sea.
Speaking to ABC News, U.S. National Security Advisor Michael Waltz stated that Saturday’s airstrikes specifically targeted key Houthi leaders. In another interview with Fox News, he emphasized, “We struck them with overwhelming force and told Iran, ‘Enough is enough.'” He also warned that “all options are on the table” to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.
The Houthi-controlled Yemeni Health Ministry reported that Saturday’s U.S. strikes killed 31 people and injured 101. The Houthis, who have controlled large parts of Yemen for over a decade, vowed to continue their attacks against the U.S. and Israel, claiming they are retaliating for the Gaza war.
Since the Hamas-Israel conflict began on October 7, 2023, the Houthis have been launching drone and missile strikes on Israeli and U.S.-linked ships in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. According to the Pentagon, Houthi rebels have attacked U.S. warships 174 times and commercial vessels 145 times in the region. This waterway handles 12% of global trade, and the attacks have severely disrupted maritime traffic.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump also warned the Houthis in a social media post, saying, “The attacks must stop today. If they don’t, they will face destruction like never before.”
Last month, Trump reportedly sent a letter to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, offering to restart nuclear talks but warning that a failure to reach an agreement could lead to military action. However, Tehran dismissed the threat, stating that it would not negotiate under pressure.
Speaking to ABC News, Michael Waltz reaffirmed that Iran will not be allowed to acquire nuclear weapons and that the U.S. is considering all possible measures to prevent it.