The White House unveiled images of President Donald Trump observing strikes against Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen on Saturday, amidst an ongoing large-scale U.S. operation targeting the terrorist organization.
“President Trump is taking decisive measures against the Houthis to safeguard U.S. shipping interests and prevent terrorist threats,” the White House stated on X, alongside photos of Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and National Security Adviser Mike Waltz. “For far too long, American economic and national interests have been under attack by the Houthis. That will not happen under this administration.”
Trump was seen dressed in golf attire, sporting his iconic red baseball cap, while he monitored the strikes on a television screen.
Another image captured the president from the front, wearing a black headset.
U.S. NAVY SHIPS DEFEND AGAINST HOUTHIS IN THE GULF OF ADEN
President Trump is taking action against the Houthis to defend U.S. shipping assets and deter terrorist threats, the White House posted on X on March 15, 2025. (The White House)
Trump declared in a Saturday TRUTHSocial post that he had “commanded the United States Military to commence decisive and robust Military actions against the Houthi terrorists in Yemen.”
“Our courageous Warfighters are currently executing aerial strikes on the terrorists’ bases, leadership, and missile defense systems to protect American shipping, air, and naval assets, and to restore Navigational Freedom,” Trump stated. “No terrorist entity will obstruct American commercial and naval vessels from navigating the Waterways of the World.”
The U.S. Central Command announced on Saturday that it “commenced a series of operations involving precision strikes on Iran-backed Houthi targets across Yemen to protect American interests, deter adversaries, and restore freedom of navigation.”
State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce stated that Rubio communicated with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Saturday.
“The Secretary informed Russia of U.S. military deterrence operations against the Iran-backed Houthis and asserted that ongoing Houthi assaults on U.S. military and commercial shipping in the Red Sea would be unacceptable,” Bruce mentioned. “Secretary Rubio and Foreign Minister Lavrov also deliberated on subsequent steps following recent discussions in Saudi Arabia and agreed to maintain efforts towards reestablishing communication between the United States and Russia.”
The Houthi-controlled Health Ministry in Yemen reported that the strikes resulted in at least 31 fatalities, according to the Associated Press.
President Trump is taking action against the Houthis to defend U.S. shipping assets and deter terrorist threats, the White House posted on X on March 15, 2025. (The White House)
The Houthis have consistently targeted international shipping in the Red Sea, launching missiles and drones at Israel as acts of solidarity with the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, where hostilities with Hamas, another Iranian ally, are ongoing. The attacks ceased when a tentative cease-fire reached in early January. Following the cutoff of humanitarian aid to Gaza by Israel, the Houthis warned of reviving their assaults.
The U.S. and several other nations have long accused Iran of supplying military assistance to the Houthis, with the U.S. Navy confiscating Iranian-made missile components intended for the group, which has authority over Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, and its northern region. General Hossein Salami, head of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, refuted claims of Iranian involvement in the Houthi operations.
TRUMP ANNOUNCES ‘DECISIVE AND POWERFUL’ AIRSTRIKES AGAINST HOUTHI TERRORISTS IN YEMEN
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi responded on X, calling for a cessation of U.S. strikes, asserting that Washington lacks the authority to dictate Iran’s foreign policy.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio appears in a photo shared by the White House on March 15, 2025. (The White House)
Trump emphasized, “The Houthi attack on American vessels will not be tolerated. We will deploy overwhelming lethal force until we meet our goals. The Houthis have obstructed shipping in one of the world’s most crucial trade routes, stalling vast sections of global commerce and assailing the fundamental principle of Freedom of Navigation that underpins international trade.”
Trump accused the Houthis of pursuing a relentless campaign of piracy, violence, and terrorism against American and other ships, aircraft, and drones.
“Joe Biden’s response has been woefully weak, allowing the Houthis to continue their aggressions unchecked,” he wrote on TRUTHSocial.
Trump noted that it has been over a year since a U.S.-flagged commercial ship securely navigated the Suez Canal, the Red Sea, or the Gulf of Aden.
“The last American warship that traversed the Red Sea was attacked by the Houthis more than a dozen times just four months ago. Financed by Iran, the Houthi militants have targeted U.S. aircraft and attacked our troops and allies. These unrelenting assaults have incurred billions in costs to the U.S. and global economy while jeopardizing innocent lives,” Trump asserted.
National Security Adviser Mike Waltz appears in a photo shared by the White House on March 15, 2025. (The White House)
“To all Houthi terrorists, YOUR TIME IS UP, AND YOUR ATTACKS MUST END, STARTING TODAY. IF THEY DON’T, HELL WILL RAIN DOWN UPON YOU LIKE NOTHING YOU HAVE EVER EXPERIENCED BEFORE!” Trump proclaimed.
The president added, “To Iran: Support for the Houthi terrorists must cease IMMEDIATELY! Do NOT threaten the American people or their President, who has received one of the largest mandates in Presidential History, or any global shipping routes. If you do, BEWARE, for America will hold you accountable in ways you won’t like!”
The Houthis have targeted over 100 commercial vessels with missiles and drones, sinking two and resulting in the deaths of four sailors between the beginning of the Israel-Hamas conflict in October 2023 and January of this year, when a ceasefire in Gaza took hold, according to the Associated Press.
The U.S., Israel, and Britain have previously targeted Houthi positions in Yemen, but Saturday’s action was executed solely by the U.S. It marked the first strike on the Houthis under Trump’s second administration.
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This follows a letter sent by Trump to Iranian leaders two weeks ago, proposing a framework for restarting bilateral dialogues regarding Iran’s nuclear advancements. Trump has asserted he will not permit it to become operational.
The Trump administration officially re-designated the Houthis as a foreign terrorist organization earlier this month, reversing the Biden administration’s decision to lift the group’s designation in 2021.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
