'Your time is up': Trump warns Houthi rebels as US strikes kill 31 in Yemen

The United States on Saturday (March 15) launched airstrikes in Yemen, causing 31 fatalities and leaving over 100 injured in a bid to target Iran-backed Houthi rebels and “defend American interests”.

US President Donald Trump warned that if the group does not cease its actions, they will face severe consequences, saying “hell will rain down” on them.

The Houthi rebel-run Health Ministry confirmed that the death toll from US strikes on Yemen has climbed to 31, including women and children. Anees al-Asbahi, a spokesperson for the ministry, said that another 101 people were wounded in the overnight strikes.

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Restoring navigational freedom

President Donald Trump said he ordered a series of airstrikes on the Houthi-held areas in Yemen on Saturday, promising to use “overwhelming lethal force” until Iranian-backed Houthi rebels cease their attacks on shipping along a vital maritime corridor. The Houthis said at least 18 civilians were killed.

“Our brave warfighters are right now carrying out aerial attacks on the terrorists' bases, leaders, and missile defences to protect American shipping, air, and naval assets, and to restore navigational freedom,” Trump said in a social media post.

“No terrorist force will stop American commercial and naval vessels from freely sailing the waterways of the world.” He also warned Iran to stop supporting the rebel group, promising to hold the country “fully accountable” for the actions of its proxy. He cautioned that any threat to the United States would have serious consequences, "America will hold you fully accountable, and we won't be nice about it!"

Most extensive US operation

The ongoing strikes mark the most extensive US military operation in the Middle East since Trump became President in January. The offensive comes as US intensifies sanctions on Tehran in an effort to pressure it into nuclear negotiations, Reuters reported.

It comes two weeks after the US leader sent a letter to Iranian leaders offering a path to restarting bilateral talks between the countries on Iran's advancing nuclear programme. Trump has said he will not allow it to become operational.

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Beginning of air strikes

A US official said this was the beginning of air strikes on Houthi targets that are expected to continue. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to talk to the press.

The Houthis reported explosions in their territory Saturday evening, in the capital of Sanaa and the northern province of Saada, the rebels' stronghold on the border with Saudi Arabia, with more airstrikes reported in those areas early Sunday.

Images online showed plumes of black smoke over the area of the Sanaa airport complex, which includes a sprawling military facility. The Houthis also reported airstrikes early Sunday on the provinces of Hodeida, Bayda, and Marib.

Trump’s claims ‘misleading’

Another spokesman of Houthi rebels, Mohamed Abdulsalam, called Trump’s claims that the Houthis threaten international shipping routes “false and misleading”.

The airstrikes come a few days after the Houthis said they would resume attacks on Israeli vessels sailing off Yemen in response to Israel's latest blockade on Gaza. They described the warning as affecting the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and the Arabian Sea.

There have been no Houthi attacks reported since then.

The Houthis had targeted over 100 merchant vessels with missiles and drones, sinking two vessels and killing four sailors, during their campaign targeting military and civilian ships between the start of the war between Israel and Hamas in late 2023 and January of this year, when this ceasefire in Gaza took effect.

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Residential neighbourhood hit

The Houthi media office said the US strikes hit a residential neighbourhood in Sanaa's northern district of Shouab. Residents said at least four airstrikes rocked the Eastern Geraf neighbourhood there, terrifying women and children.

“The explosions were very strong,” said Abdallah al-Alffi. “It was like an earthquake.” The Eastern Geraf is home to Houthi-held military facilities and a headquarters for the rebels' political bureau, located in a densely populated area.

The Houthis reported fresh strikes on the southwestern Dhamar province late Saturday. They said the strikes hit the outskirts of the provincial capital, also named Dhamar, and the district of Abs.

The United States, Israel and Britain have previously hit Houthi-held areas in Yemen. Israel's military declined to comment.

However, Saturday's operation was conducted solely by the US, according to a US official. It was the first strike on the Yemen-based Houthis under the second Trump administration.

(With agency inputs)