U.S. Strikes Yemen… Russia Calls for Dialogue, and Iran Threatens

---

Devastating American strikes against Houthi militias in Yemen have resulted in at least 31 deaths and over 100 injuries.

The airstrikes focused on areas in Sanaa, Saada, and Al-Bayda, where plumes of smoke were seen rising from the targeted sites, while emergency teams rushed to the bombing locations to transport the wounded, including women and children.

• American strikes target Houthi command and control centers, missile systems 

• Washington Allocates $15 Million to Disrupt Houthi Financing after Reclassifying Them as Terrorists

Trump Threatens the Houthis

U.S. President Donald Trump defended the military decision, emphasizing that the strikes were in response to Houthi threats to maritime trade in the Red Sea.

He warned that the U.S. would not allow what he described as “terrorist extortion” to continue in vital maritime corridors.

• Houthis Threaten Israel amid Stalled Second Round of Truce Negotiations

• 4 Days Until the Houthis Are Designated as a Terrorist Organization… What Is the Militia’s Future?

In a post on his platform “Truth Social,” Trump issued a direct warning to the Houthis, saying: “To all Houthi terrorists, your time is up, and your attacks must stop starting today. If you don’t, hell will rain down on you like you have never seen before.”

Trump added that Washington “will use overwhelming deadly force until it achieves its goal,” stressing that the Houthis have become a direct threat to international shipping, referring to attacks on Israeli vessels and others linked to Israel, in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.

• “Houthi Terrorist”… Yemen is called to lead the “Orchestra” of this historical opportunity

• Trump Reinstates the Houthis on the Terrorist Organization List

The Houthis Promise to Respond

The Houthi response was swift, with the group issuing an inflammatory statement via their “Al-Masirah” channel, confirming that the “American aggression” would not go unanswered, and their forces were ready to escalate the confrontation if needed.

The statement added that “the Yemeni armed forces are fully prepared to escalate in response to escalation,” referring to the possibility of continuing attacks on Israeli vessels or expanding operations to include American targets.

• Washington Bombs Northern Sanaa Following Houthi Warning

• Houthi Militias: Panic, Intelligence Breaches, and Accusations of Treason

In Sanaa, Houthi media broadcast footage of the targeted sites, showing shocking scenes of the wounded being transported to hospitals, while bodies piled up in a medical facility, amid widespread mobilization of medical teams in the affected areas.

Iran on the Line

The escalation was not limited to Yemen, as Tehran quickly condemned the U.S. strikes, calling them a “flagrant violation of international law.”

• Houthi Militants Escalate Attacks against Israel in a Message of Intimidation to Their Interior

• Damascus Echoes Reach Sanaa: Houthi Precautions amid Fears of a “Spiral of Collapse”

Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps commander Hossein Salami stated that “Iran will not initiate a war but will respond with force if attacked,” adding that the Houthi movement is independent, represents the Yemeni people, and makes its decisions autonomously, in response to Washington’s accusations that Tehran directs the Houthis.

For his part, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baqaei said that the U.S. strikes “exacerbate the crisis and do not serve peace,” warning that continued escalation could lead to catastrophic consequences for the stability of the entire region.

• With Deceptive Promises… Houthis “Recruit” Yemenis to Fight in Ukraine

• UN Security Council Extends Sanctions on Houthis in Yemen: Details

Russia Calls for Dialogue

Amid this growing escalation, Russia has called for de-escalation and political dialogue. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov informed U.S. counterpart Marco Rubio of the need to refrain from using force and focus on the diplomatic path to resolve the crisis.

Moscow emphasized that any further escalation could lead to increased tensions in the Middle East, urging efforts to find a comprehensive solution to the Yemen crisis rather than escalating violence.

• U.S. Attack Targets Houthi Sites in Sanaa and Amran

• Washington Plans to Deploy Fighters and Destroyers in the Region to Defend Israel

Wider Consequences

The American strikes come at a time when concerns are growing about the impact of the conflict on global trade, as approximately 12% of global maritime shipping passes through the Red Sea, a passage now under unprecedented threat since the start of the Houthi attacks.

The United States had formed an international coalition to protect navigation in the region, but attacks continued, prompting Washington to escalate its military response.

As U.S. forces prepare for a possible Houthi retaliation, the region seems on the brink of confrontation, with open-ended scenarios ahead.

• Iran Mediates to Supply Houthis with Russian Anti-Ship Weapons

• Yemeni Analyst: Houthi Operations in the Red Sea Have a Significant Economic Cost

• In a surprising decision, the Houthis threaten to target Saudi Arabia