CAIRO – 16 March 2025: The United States has launched a wave of airstrikes against Houthis in Yemen, killing dozens of people including women and children. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has called for all parties to immediately cease the use of force.
Lavrov, in a phone call with United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Sunday, urged all sides to engage in political dialogue aimed at finding a solution that prevents further bloodshed.
At least 31 people were killed and 101 more were injured in Yemen in a series of US strikes on Saturday, said Anees Al-Asbahi, spokesman for the Houthi-run health ministry, citing preliminary data.
Al-Asbahi said most of casualties in the strikes, which he said targeted residential and civilian areas in Sanaa, Saada, Al Baydha, and Radaa, were women and children.
Houthi-run Al Masirah TV also reported attacks in the governorates of Marib and Ibb and said one of the strikes targeted a power plant in Saada, causing power cuts across Dhahyan town.
Footage aired by the TV channel showed multiple individuals, including children, arriving at hospitals with burns on their bodies and faces, as well as other injuries.
US President Donald Trump announced on Saturday the launch of "decisive and powerful military action" in Yemen in response to the Houthis’ threats to resume attacks on Israeli ships.
In a message to the Houthis on Truth Social, Trump warned, "your time is up, and your attacks must stop, starting today. If they don’t, hell will rain down upon you like nothing you have ever seen before!"
He also issued a stern warning to Iran, which supports the Houthis, stating that the US will “hold you fully accountable, and we won’t be nice about it.”
“The Houthi attack on American vessels will not be tolerated. We will use overwhelming lethal force until we achieve our objective,” Trump declared.
READY FOR ESCALATION
The Houthis vowed retaliation for the attacks, stating that they will “meet escalation with escalation.”
In a statement broadcast by Houthi-affiliated media, the political office of the group declared, “This aggression will not go unanswered, and our armed forces are fully prepared to confront escalation with escalation.”
The statement labeled the attack “a complete war crime” and “treacherous and sinful act of aggression” that targeted “residential areas.”
The Houthis accuse the United Kingdom of being part of the latest assaults, calling them a "US-UK act of aggression."
Yemeni Houthi leader Abdul-Malik Al-Houthi announced on Friday that his group will resume naval operations against Israel if Tel Aviv does not lift its blockade on humanitarian aid to Gaza within four days#Egypt #Africa #MENAhttps://t.co/4tcqaQLCL9
— Egypt Today Magazine (@EgyptTodayMag) March 8, 2025
Last week, the Houthis announced their intention to resume attacks on Israeli ships after their deadline for Israel to allow the resumption of aid deliveries into Gaza expired.
The Houthis have carried out dozens of attacks on vessels linked to Israel and US warships in solidarity with the Palestinian people in Gaza amid the ongoing Israeli war that began on October 7, 2023.
The Houthis' Supreme Political Council emphasized in a statement on Saturday that the US attacks will not deter them from supporting Gaza but will rather “drag the situation into something worse and more severe.”
The council vowed to “punish the aggressors in a professional and painful manner.”
The Israeli war in Gaza has killed more than 48,500 people to date, injured nearly 112,000 others with most of fatalities being women and children.
Tel Aviv has halted humanitarian aid to Gaza, home to around 2.3 million residents, following the expiration of the first phase of the ceasefire with Hamas on March 1.
The ceasefire took effect on 19 January, mediated by Egypt, Qatar and the US, allowing thousands of trucks laden with humanitarian aid and fuel to enter the enclave.
Israeli restrictions on aid deliveries throughout the war left Gaza on brink of famine, bringing serious warnings from the United Nations and relief groups about a worsening humanitarian situation.
The UN estimates that 96% of the population faces acute food insecurity, with 2.15 million people experiencing crisis levels of hunger or worse.
Be Social
Comments
Leave a Comment