US vows unrelenting strikes on Houthis until Red Sea attacks cease

WASHINGTON. The United States has pledged to continue military strikes against Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi militants until they cease attacks on international shipping, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Sunday. The warning comes as the Houthis vow retaliation following deadly U.S. airstrikes.

The airstrikes, which the Houthi-controlled health ministry claims killed at least 53 people, mark the largest U.S. military operation in the Middle East since President Donald Trump took office in January. A U.S. official told Reuters that the campaign could extend for weeks.

Houthi Escalation Amid U.S. Attacks

Houthi leader Abdul Malik al-Houthi signaled an escalation, stating in a televised address, “If they continue their aggression, we will continue the escalation.” The Houthis’ military spokesperson further claimed, without evidence, that they had launched ballistic missiles and drones targeting the U.S. aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman and its escort ships in the Red Sea.

A U.S. official, however, confirmed that U.S. forces shot down 11 Houthi drones on Sunday, none of which posed a threat to the Truman. The military also tracked a missile that fell into the sea off Yemen’s coast without causing harm.

In a statement to Fox News’ Sunday Morning Futures, Hegseth reinforced the U.S. stance: “The minute the Houthis say, ‘We’ll stop shooting at your ships,’ we’ll stop shooting at your drones. This campaign will end, but until then, it will be unrelenting.”

Hegseth further accused Iran of enabling the Houthis, stating, “This is about stopping the shooting at assets … in that critical waterway, to reopen freedom of navigation, which is a core national interest of the United States. Iran has been enabling the Houthis for far too long. They better back off.”

Iran Warns of Retaliation

Iran, the Houthis’ primary backer, warned Washington against further escalation. Hossein Salami, commander of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, told state media, “We warn our enemies that Iran will respond decisively and destructively if they carry out their threats.”

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres urged restraint, warning that further escalation could “fuel cycles of retaliation that may further destabilize Yemen and the region, and pose grave risks to the already dire humanitarian situation in the country.”

Civilian Casualties and Global Reactions

The U.S. strikes reportedly targeted a Houthi-controlled neighborhood in Sanaa, where residents described powerful explosions. “The explosions were violent and shook the neighborhood like an earthquake. They terrified our women and children,” said a resident, Abdullah Yahia.

Local reports indicate that five children and two women were among the 53 fatalities. The Houthi-run health ministry reported another 98 injuries. Reuters footage from Sanaa showed rescuers removing debris, civilians searching for survivors, and hospitals overwhelmed with the wounded.

The U.S. Pentagon has not commented on reports of civilian casualties.

Impact on Global Trade

Houthi attacks on Red Sea shipping have significantly disrupted global commerce. The group initially suspended its attacks in January following a temporary ceasefire between Israel and Hamas but resumed hostilities last week, demanding that Israel lift its blockade on aid shipments to Gaza.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio condemned Iran’s role in the conflict, stating on CBS News’ Face the Nation, “There’s no way the Houthis would have the ability to do this kind of thing unless they had support from Iran. And so this was a message to Iran: don’t keep supporting them, because then you will also be responsible for what they are doing in attacking Navy ships and attacking global shipping.”

Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov called on Washington to cease military actions, emphasizing the need for a diplomatic resolution.

As tensions mount, the U.S. military continues its campaign against Houthi forces, signaling that strikes will persist until maritime security in the Red Sea is restored.