The Middle East region has once again become a focal point of tension following a series of reciprocal airstrikes between US military forces and the Houthi faction in Yemen. The Houthis have vowed severe retaliation, interpreting the US airstrikes as support for Israel, warning that such actions will escalate tensions to “more severe and painful levels”. Meanwhile, the US has accused Iran of backing the Yemeni group.
The Red Sea, Arabian Sea, Gulf of Aden, and the Bab al-Mandab Strait have emerged as particularly concerning security hotspots. Over the past year, these critical maritime routes have frequently witnessed airstrikes conducted by the Houthis, targeting international vessels traversing these waters.
Tensions were further escalated when the Houthis declared a continued “naval blockade against Israel” within their operational zones, stating that this would persist until the flow of aid into the Gaza Strip is restored.
In retaliation to Houthi attacks, the US launched a series of new airstrikes targeting Houthi positions in Yemen’s capital city of Sanaa. These mark the first US attacks against the Houthis since President Donald Trump commenced his second term.
US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth stated that the US would continue relentless strikes against the Houthis until the armed group ceases military actions targeting US assets and global maritime operations. The White House announced that these airstrikes have eliminated several Houthi leaders in Yemen and issued a warning to Iran to halt its support for the group.
The Houthi movement declared retaliatory attacks targeting the US Navy’s aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman in the Red Sea. This carrier has played a significant role in US airstrikes against Yemen. A Houthi military spokesperson accused the US military of conducting over 47 airstrikes on Sanaa and seven other Yemeni provinces.
In response, the Houthis deployed unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) along with 18 ballistic and cruise missiles to attack the USS Harry S. Truman and its escort ships. Following the Houthi announcement, a US official reported that American F-16 and F-18 fighters had shot down a total of 11 Houthi UAVs.
Meanwhile, following the US airstrikes on the Houthis and warnings to Tehran against supporting the movement, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) cautioned that it would decisively respond to any attacks. IRGC Commander Major General Hossein Salami condemned the US President’s threats, stating that while Iran does not seek war, it will respond accordingly when threatened. Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei vehemently condemned the US airstrikes, emphasising that Washington has no authority to dictate Iran’s foreign policy.
Amid these tit-for-tat actions, the international community has called for de-escalation, emphasising that dialogue is the most effective path to resolving crises in such a sensitive and vital region as the Middle East. The United Nations issued a statement urging both the US military and Houthi forces to exercise maximum restraint and cease all military actions following the bloody exchanges.
NDO
