Children and Women Among 31 Killed in US Strikes as Trump Orders 'Decisive' Military Action Against Houthi Rebels in Yemen

Sanaa: At least 31 people, including children and kids, were killed after US President Donald Trump ordered large-scale military strikes on Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels on Saturday in retaliation for their attacks on Red Sea shipping, according to foreign media reports.

"Our brave Warfighters are right now carrying out aerial attacks on the terrorists’ bases, leaders, and missile defenses to protect American shipping, air, and naval assets, and to restore Navigational Freedom. No terrorist force will stop American commercial and naval vessels from freely sailing the Waterways of the World."

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Trump also issued a warning, stating that "hell will rain down" on the Houthis if they do not cease their actions. He also directed a stern message to Iran, urging the country to stop supporting the group immediately, and warned that if Iran posed a threat to the US, "America will hold you fully accountable and, we won't be nice about it!"

The airstrikes, which US officials indicated could continue for days or even weeks, mark the largest U.S. military operation in the Middle East since Trump took office. The military escalation comes alongside increased U.S. sanctions on Iran, aimed at pressuring the country to engage in nuclear negotiations.

The Houthi-run health ministry reported that at least 13 civilians were killed, with nine others injured, in the U.S. airstrikes on Yemen's capital, Sanaa. A separate strike in the northern province of Saada killed six people, including four children and one woman, and injured 11 others, according to Houthi-controlled Al-Masirah TV.

On Saturday evening, the Houthis reported explosions in their territory, particularly in Sanaa and Saada, their stronghold near the Saudi border. Additional airstrikes were also reported in these areas on Sunday morning. Online images showed black smoke rising from the Sanaa airport complex, which includes a large military facility. The Houthis also reported further strikes in the provinces of Hodeida, Bayda, and Marib.

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'Will Not Pass Without Response': Houthis Retaliation Threats

The Houthis vowed retaliation, stating that the strikes "will not pass without response" and expressing solidarity with Palestinians. "Our Yemeni armed forces are fully prepared to confront escalation with escalation," the rebels' political bureau declared on Al-Masirah TV.

Despite the ongoing airstrikes, Houthi officials asserted they would not be deterred. Nasruddin Amer, deputy head of the Houthi media office, declared that Sanaa would remain a shield for Gaza and vowed not to abandon it. Another spokesperson, Mohamed Abdulsalam, rejected Trump’s claims that the Houthis were threatening international shipping routes, calling them "false and misleading."

Earlier this week, the Houthis announced their intention to resume attacks on Israeli vessels off Yemen's coast in response to Israel’s blockade of Gaza. They warned that these actions would affect the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, Bab el-Mandeb Strait, and the Arabian Sea.

Trump announced the strikes while spending the day at his Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida. "These relentless assaults have cost the U.S. and world economy billions of dollars while also putting innocent lives at risk," Trump stated.