The Middle East is never short of surprises.  The U. S. President Trump ordered airstrikes on Yemen's capital, Sanaa, on a Saturday.  The target was the Iran-backed Houthi rebels.  The U. S. President made it clear that these strikes were a response to the Houthis' attacks on shipping in a crucial sea route.  The Houthis, however, claimed that nine civilians lost their lives in the strikes.

The U. S. President's message was loud and clear.  He vowed to use overwhelming force until the Houthis stop their attacks.  He also warned Iran to cut ties with the rebel group.  This comes just two weeks after the U. S. President sent a letter to Iran, offering a path to restart talks on Iran's nuclear program.  The Houthis, meanwhile, vowed to retaliate against the U. S.  They also expressed solidarity with Gaza, saying they would not abandon it despite the challenges.

The airstrikes come at a tense time.  The Houthis had recently threatened to attack Israeli vessels in response to Israel's blockade on Gaza.  Israel, for its part, had warned of "additional consequences" for Hamas if the ceasefire in Gaza isn't extended.  The Houthis have been targeting merchant vessels in the Red Sea and the Arabian Sea, causing significant damage and loss of life.

The U. S. President's decision to order airstrikes is significant.  It marks the first strike on the Houthis under his second administration.  The strikes were conducted solely by the U. S. , with the USS Harry S. Truman carrier strike group and the USS Georgia cruise missile submarine playing a key role.  The U. S. President announced the strikes while spending the day at his golf club in Florida.  The U. S. President said the Houthis' attacks have cost the U. S. and the world economy billions of dollars and put innocent lives at risk.

The airstrikes have sparked concerns about civilian casualties.  The Houthis claimed that the strikes hit a residential neighborhood in Sanaa, terrifying residents.  The U. S. and its allies have previously hit Houthi-held areas in Yemen, but this is the first time under the current administration.  The strikes come after a period of relative quiet in the region, but tensions have been simmering for years.  The Houthis have been facing economic problems and have launched a crackdown on dissent and aid workers at home.  The war in Yemen, which has been going on for a decade, has torn apart the Arab world's poorest nation.

Trump's Airstrikes on Yemen: A New Chapter in Middle East Tensions

Actions