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The White House livestreamed President Donald Trump monitoring U.S. military strikes against Iran-backed Houthi terrorists in Yemen on Saturday. The large-scale operation marks a significant escalation in efforts to curb Houthi aggression against American and allied shipping.

"President Trump is taking action against the Houthis to defend U.S. shipping assets and deter terrorist threats," the White House wrote on X.

"For too long American economic & national threats have been under assault by the Houthis. Not under this presidency."

Dressed in golf attire and his signature red baseball cap, Trump was seen watching the strikes on a television screen. Later, he posted on TRUTHSocial that he had "ordered the United States Military to launch decisive and powerful Military action against the Houthi terrorists in Yemen."

U.S. Military Targets Houthi Bases

U.S. Central Command confirmed the military operation, stating it "initiated a series of operations consisting of precision strikes against Iran-backed Houthi targets across Yemen to defend American interests, deter enemies, and restore freedom of navigation."

Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who recently re-designated the Houthis as a foreign terrorist organization, has been at the forefront of U.S. efforts to counter their activities. The State Department imposed sanctions on seven senior members of the group for smuggling military-grade weapons into Yemen. They were also allegedly negotiating weapons deals with Russia.

Houthi Attacks Disrupt Global Shipping

The Houthis, widely known as Ansar Allah, have significantly disrupted maritime trade since the outbreak of the Israeli-Gaza conflict. Their attacks on shipping vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden have raised freight costs, increased insurance premiums, and forced ships to take lengthy detours.

While the Biden administration had removed the Houthis from the foreign terrorist organization list, Trump’s administration reinstated the designation earlier this month following repeated Houthi attacks on U.S. and allied vessels.

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Trump Warns Iran and the Houthis

Trump issued a strong warning to both the Houthis and Iran, emphasizing that American forces would not tolerate further aggression.

"Our brave Warfighters are right now carrying out aerial attacks on the terrorists’ bases, leaders, and missile defenses to protect American shipping, air, and naval assets, and to restore Navigational Freedom," he said.

"No terrorist force will stop American commercial and naval vessels from freely sailing the Waterways of the World."

Trump accused the Houthis of "waging an unrelenting campaign of piracy, violence, and terrorism" and blamed the Biden administration for failing to deter them earlier.

"Joe Biden’s response was pathetically weak, so the unrestrained Houthis just kept going," Trump wrote on TRUTHSocial.

Iran Denies Involvement

The U.S. and its allies have long accused Iran of supplying the Houthis with military aid. The U.S. Navy has intercepted Iranian-made missile parts and other weaponry bound for Yemen. However, Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard leader Gen. Hossein Salami denied Tehran’s involvement in the attacks.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi took to X, urging the U.S. to halt its strikes, asserting that Washington "cannot dictate Iran’s foreign policy."

Houthi Response and Civilian Casualties

The Houthi-run Health Ministry in Yemen reported that the U.S. strikes had killed at least 31 people, according to the Associated Press.

The Houthis have justified their attacks on international shipping as acts of solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, where Israel has been engaged in a conflict with Hamas, another Iranian-backed group. Their assaults temporarily ceased after a cease-fire in January but were reignited when Israel halted humanitarian aid to Gaza.

U.S. Leads Military Offensive

The latest U.S. military operation marks the first direct attack on the Houthis under Trump’s second term. While the U.S., Israel, and Britain have previously conducted joint strikes against Houthi-held positions in Yemen, Saturday’s action was solely an American-led initiative.

Trump emphasized that he would not allow the Houthis to continue threatening global trade.

"To all Houthi terrorists, 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!" Trump warned.

He also sent a direct message to Iran: "Support for the Houthi terrorists must end IMMEDIATELY! Do NOT threaten the American People, their President, or Worldwide shipping lanes. If you do, BEWARE, because America will hold you fully accountable, and we won’t be nice about it!"

Strategic Implications

Since the start of the Israel-Hamas war in October 2023, the Houthis have targeted over 100 merchant vessels with missiles and drones, sinking two ships and killing four sailors. The conflict has cost billions in global trade disruptions.

Ansar Allah, also known as the Iran-backed “Houthi movement,” has been a major disrupter of shipping since the beginning of the Israeli-Gaza conflict. Their attacks on vessels throughout the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden targeted American and allied ships.

Trump has vowed that his administration will restore stability to international waterways and ensure that U.S.-flagged ships can once again navigate the Red Sea, Suez Canal, and Gulf of Aden without threat.

The military action also comes just two weeks after Trump extended a diplomatic offer to Iran, seeking to reopen discussions on Tehran’s nuclear program. However, he has remained firm that Iran will not be allowed to develop nuclear weapons.

With the renewed designation of the Houthis as a terrorist group, the U.S. is positioning itself for an extended conflict with Iran’s proxies in the Middle East.