The Houthi rebels in Yemen claimed responsibility for a third attack on a U.S. aircraft carrier in the Red Sea within 48 hours on Tuesday, in response to U.S. airstrikes targeting the Houthis, which have sparked protests in the areas under their control in the war-torn country.
اضافة اعلان
Houthi spokesman, Brigadier General Yahya Saree, stated in a press release that "in response to the continued brutal U.S. aggression against our country," the group targeted the U.S. aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman in the northern Red Sea using two cruise missiles and two drones, as well as a U.S. destroyer with one cruise missile and four drones.
This announcement came after Houthi media outlets reported that the U.S. had launched new airstrikes on Yemen late Monday, following large protests in Houthi-controlled areas, especially in the capital, Sanaa, condemning the U.S. airstrikes that began on Saturday, which have killed dozens.
U.S. President Donald Trump stated on Monday that Iran "will be responsible for every bullet" fired by the Iran-backed Houthis, who have been targeting commercial ships off the coast of Yemen for more than a year.
Trump wrote on his social media platform, Truth Social: "Any gunfire from the Houthis, from now on, will be considered gunfire from Iranian weapons and officials. Iran will be held responsible and will face the consequences, which will be 'severe'."
Late on Monday, Houthi media outlets reported that Yemeni areas had been hit by new U.S. airstrikes, including Sanaa and the western province of Hodeidah.
Earlier on Monday, the Houthis claimed responsibility for a second attack on the U.S. aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman in the Red Sea within 24 hours.
They said in a statement, "With the help of God, for the second time in 24 hours, we targeted the U.S. aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman in the northern Red Sea with several ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and drones in a battle that lasted for several hours."
The Houthis had previously announced their intention to resume attacks on Israeli ships in the Red Sea, extending to the Arabian Sea, until "the crossings are reopened" and aid is allowed into Gaza.
In response to this escalation in maritime trade routes, the United Nations called on both parties to "halt all military activities," while China reiterated its call for diplomacy.
The Houthis, who control most of Yemen, have targeted Israel and Red Sea shipping routes during the Gaza War, claiming to act in solidarity with the Palestinians.
Since the war began in Gaza in October 2023, the Houthis have launched hundreds of attacks on ships they claimed were linked to Israel in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. They paused their attacks after the truce began on January 19.
U.S. National Security Advisor Michael Waltz announced on Sunday that the U.S. airstrikes on Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen on Saturday night killed "several" Houthi leaders. He warned Iran to stop supporting the Houthis and their attacks on ships in the Red Sea.
Waltz said in an interview with ABC that the U.S. "will not only hold the Houthis accountable, but we will also hold Iran, their sponsor, accountable."
In a statement to Fox News, Waltz said the airstrikes were "a warning to Iran that enough is enough."
U.S. Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, vowed on Sunday to launch a "relentless" missile campaign until the Houthis stop their attacks.
Hegseth told Fox Business, "I want to be crystal clear, this campaign is about freedom of navigation and restoring deterrence."
Trump was the first to announce the U.S. strikes via his social media platform, Truth Social, writing, "To all... Houthis, your time is up, and you must stop your attacks starting today. If you don’t, hell will rain down upon you like you’ve never seen before!"
Trump also called on Tehran to immediately stop supporting the Houthis, saying, "Support for... the Houthis must stop immediately. Don’t threaten the American people, the President, or global shipping lanes. If you do, beware, because America will hold you fully responsible."
On Monday, Iran responded through its Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, stating on X (formerly Twitter) that the U.S. "has no right to dictate" Iran's foreign policy.
Meanwhile, Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps Commander Hossein Salami warned that Tehran would respond to any attack on its interests.
Salami said in remarks broadcast on Iranian state television on Sunday, "Iran will not start a war, but if threatened, it will respond appropriately, decisively, and firmly."
On Monday, China called for "dialogue" and de-escalation in the Red Sea. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said, "China opposes any move that leads to an escalation of the situation in the Red Sea."
In Moscow, the Russian Foreign Ministry reported that U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio had spoken by phone with his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, on Saturday and informed him that Washington had decided to launch airstrikes against the Houthis.
The Russian Ministry stated that Lavrov had urged Rubio to avoid "using force" in Yemen and to initiate "political dialogue."
According to U.S. Department of Defense spokesman Sean Barnell, the Houthis have attacked "U.S. warships 174 times and commercial ships 145 times since 2023."
