Trump Puts Onus on Iran to Restrain Houthis as U.S. Strikes in Yemen Leave Dozens Killed
According to Houthi health officials, at least 53 people—including several children—were killed in heavy U.S. airstrikes on Sunday, March 16. The United States described these attacks as “widespread and heavy” on Houthi positions in Yemen and claimed several Houthi leaders were targeted and killed. In response, Abdul-Malik al-Houthi warned that his forces would strike U.S. ships in the Red Sea until Washington ends its military action against Yemen.
U.S. officials suggested the strikes would continue and hinted that they included a message for Iran, which has been broadly identified as the Houthis’ primary military benefactor. On March 16, Secretary of State Marco Rubio told CBS News that U.S. attacks would continue until the Houthis “could no longer threaten global shipping or U.S. naval forces”, adding there are “no plans for a ground invasion for now.” He insisted the Houthis “absolutely could not attack international shipping without support from Iran.”
Meanwhile, National Security Advisor Pete Hegseth said strikes would continue “uninterrupted”, describing Houthi attacks on ships since November 2023 as “dozens of provocations” and warning Iran to halt its backing of the group. National Security Advisor Michael Waltz stated the U.S. had “hit back decisively”, emphasizing “enough is enough” regarding Tehran’s alleged role in supporting the Houthis. The Houthis condemned the U.S. strikes as a “war crime”, pledging to “escalate if necessary.”
President Donald Trump has also warned Iran to “stop supporting the Houthis,” threatening serious consequences if it endangers the United States. In a post on Truth Social, the U.S. President warned “Every shot fired by the Houthis will be looked upon, from this point forward, as being a shot fired from the weapons and leadership of IRAN, and IRAN will be held responsible, and suffer the consequences, and those consequences will be dire!”
Iran, for its part, dismissed claims that it controls Houthi actions. Commander Hossein Salami of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps asserted that Iran “does not seek war but will respond decisively if threatened,” stressing the Houthis are “independent.” Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi briefly visited Muscat, Oman to discuss Yemen and posted on X that the U.S. has “no right to dictate Iran’s foreign policy.”
Yemeni residents report some of the most intense bombing they have ever witnessed around Houthi strongholds. Since the war in Gaza began in October 2023, the Houthis claim over 100 attacks on commercial ships in solidarity with Palestinians, seriously disrupting global shipping. Analysts suggest Washington aims to protect Red Sea maritime routes and pressure Iran—isolated regionally—to return to nuclear talks, although Tehran says it will “not negotiate under pressure” and denies seeking nuclear arms.
Amid this offensive, the Houthis claim they have attacked the U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS Harry Truman twice within 24 hours as retaliation. According to Yahya Qassem Sarea, the group’s spokesperson, they fired 18 missiles and a drone at the carrier on Sunday, then struck again hours later. A U.S. official countered that American fighter jets shot down 11 Houthi drones and tracked a missile falling harmlessly into the sea, noting none approached the carrier. The Houthis, who have controlled large parts of Yemen for a decade, recently warned they would continue striking ships they believe linked to Israel unless aid restrictions on Gaza are lifted. The U.S. responded it would use “deadly force” to protect global shipping.
Following a call by Abdul-Malik al-Houthi for a mass demonstration marking the anniversary of the Battle of Badr, thousands turned out in Houthi-controlled areas carrying signs or weapons, chanting “Death to America” and “Death to Israel.” In a speech aired Sunday night, he urged a “million-strong” turnout to commemorate the historic battle.
Meanwhile, Iran is reportedly finalizing its response to a letter from President Trump to Ayatollah Khamenei. Ali Gholhaki, a journalist in Tehran, says the letter is written in Trump’s “direct style” yet retains official formalities, containing elements of threat and an insistence on dialogue. Another journalist, Sara Masoumi, notes that “reliable sources” indicate Tehran’s official reply “has not yet been finalized” and is still under review at high diplomatic levels.