Houthi rebels promise to target American cargoos in the Red Sea – Liberation

The Houthi rebels in Yemen announced that they had retaliated this Sunday, March 16, the day after the American strikes carried out against several of their bastions, including the capital Sanaaand who left at least 31 dead, including children, according to a assessment of the Houthis. In the afternoon, they claimed an attack on an American aircraft carrier in the Red Sea. « In response to this (American) assault the armed forces led a military operation (…) targeting the American aircraft carrier Uss Harry Truman and the warships that accompany him in the north of the Red Sea »the rebels announced in a statement, saying that it had drawn 18 missiles and a drone.

Earlier in the day, they warned that American strikes « Would not remain unanswered ». « Our armed forces are ready to respond to climbing by climbing »had declared the political office of the Houthis, which are part with in particular the Palestinian Hamas and the Lebanese Hezbollah of what Iran calls L'« Resistance axis » Faced with Israel. Hamas and Hezbollah also condemned American raids.

By announcing the raids on Saturday, American president Donald Trump had promised « Hell » to « Houthi terrorists » After their threats against maritime trade and Israel, and summoned Iran to stop supporting these rebels. The strikes killed « Several key Houthi leaders »was delighted on Sunday the White House, warning Iran, support of the Yemeni rebellious group, that « Too much is too much ». Tehran rightly condemned attacks « Barbarians ».

According to the Houthi Ministry of Health, the strikes touched Sanaa, the governorate of Saada (North) and the city of Radaa (center) and left at least 31 dead and 101 injured, « Most children and women ». Images broadcast by the Houthi media show children and a woman among injured in the emergency room of a hospital, including a girl with legs covered with bandages.

The United States has led « A decisive and powerful military action » Against the Houthis, said Donald Trump by announcing these first American strikes in Yemen since his return to the White House. « We will use an overwhelming lethal force until we have achieved our goal »he warned, about the classified Houthis « Foreign terrorist organization » by the United States. The American central command, which has published videos of peeling combat aircraft and a bomb destroying a complex, said « Precision strikes » launched for « Defend American interests, dissuade enemies and restore freedom of navigation ».

Sunday evening, the UN asked the United States and the Houthi rebels in Yemen to calm the game and stop their attacks after a military climbing that « Risk of exacerbating regional tensions ». At the same time, in a television speech, the chief of the Houthis said he was ready to « Continue climbing » If Donald Trump executed his threats, targeting American ships in the Red Sea in particular. He also called on the Yemenis to come together « By millions » To protest against the American strikes from the day before.

After the start of the war in Gaza, triggered by an attack on Hamas against Israel on October 7, 2023, the Houthis led « In solidarity with the Palestinians » Several attacks on missiles against Israel And ships accused of links with Israel. The attacks ceased after the entry into force on January 19 of a truce in Gaza After fifteen months of destructive war. But after the refusal of Israel to allow the entry of humanitarian aid to Gaza, the rebels announced on March 11 their intention to take them against trading ships which they consider linked to the Hebrew state, off Yemen.

During a telephone conversation with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that « The continuation of the Houthie attacks against American military and commercial ships in the Red Sea will not be tolerated ». Lavrov, whose country is close to Iran, replied that all parties should refrain from using force in Yemen.

The attacks of the Houthis against the ships disturbed traffic in the Red Sea and in the Gulf of Aden, an essential maritime area for world trade, pushing the United States to set up a multinational naval coalition and to strike rebellious targets in Yemen, sometimes with the help of the United Kingdom. According to the Pentagon, the Houthis have « Attacked American warships 174 times and commercial ships 145 times since 2023 ». Poor country of the Arabian Peninsula, Yemen has been plagued by a civil war since 2014 which has left hundreds of thousands of deaths and caused a humanitarian disaster.

Updated at 8:30 p.m. With the declarations of the UN and the Houthi rebels.