1776Reporting
The United States is ramping up its military offensive against Houthi militants in Yemen, with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth promising an “unrelenting” campaign until the Iran-backed forces cease their attacks on American assets.
“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 stated during an interview on “Sunday Morning Futures” with Maria Bartiromo.
The campaign, spearheaded by U.S. Central Command, has launched precision strikes against Houthi positions across Yemen. The goal? To protect American interests, deter hostile forces, and ensure safe passage through vital waterways.
President Donald Trump reinforced the administration’s stance, declaring on TRUTH Social that he had “ordered the United States Military to launch decisive and powerful Military action against the Houthi terrorists in Yemen.”
Hegseth emphasized the broader significance of the strikes, calling them a move to reestablish “freedom of navigation” and restore America’s global deterrence power. “An era of peace, through strength is back…” he said, making it clear that U.S. military action will continue until stability is achieved.
For four years, the Houthis launched over 100 attacks on U.S. and commercial vessels, according to Hegseth. The group operated with impunity under the previous administration, escalating tensions in the region. He pointed out that just months ago, a single American vessel was targeted 17 times in one passage. “Ships haven’t been able to go through for over a year without being shot at,” he said.
The latest operation, launched on Saturday, marks the first major offensive against the Houthis since Trump returned to office. The U.S. airstrikes reportedly eliminated multiple high-ranking Houthi leaders, dealing a severe blow to the group’s operational command. Meanwhile, Yemen reports that 31 individuals have been killed in the attacks.
Hegseth reiterated that maintaining freedom of navigation is a core national interest. He underscored Trump’s commitment to safeguarding international shipping routes and preventing hostile forces from dictating terms in crucial waterways.
The message from Washington is clear—America will not stand down. The strikes will persist until the Houthis cease their provocations. With Trump at the helm, the White House is determined to demonstrate that deterrence is back, and threats to U.S. assets will not be tolerated.
As the situation in Yemen continues to unfold, all eyes remain on the U.S. military’s next move and whether the Houthis will yield to the pressure or escalate their defiance further.
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