Pentagon warns of using ‘overwhelming, lethal force’ against Houthis
The campaign by the US to weaken the capabilities of the Yemeni armed group will be “relentless,” according to spokesman Sean Parnell. Washington plans to continue its strikes against Houthi militants until they halt their assaults on US Navy...
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The campaign by the US to weaken the capabilities of the Yemeni armed group will be “relentless,” according to spokesman Sean Parnell.
Washington plans to continue its strikes against Houthi militants until they halt their assaults on US Navy ships that are protecting commercial vessels off the coast of Yemen, Parnell stated during his initial briefing as the Pentagon's new spokesman.
On Saturday, US President Donald Trump issued a warning to the Houthis, indicating that powerful military action would be taken to restore freedom of navigation in the Red Sea.
Since October 2023, the Ansar Allah movement, commonly known as the Houthis, has launched a series of drones and missiles at commercial vessels bound for Israel, disrupting vital shipping routes in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. The group claims its actions are in support of the Palestinians amidst Israel’s military operations in Gaza.
During Monday’s briefing, Parnell made it clear that the US would continue to use “overwhelming, lethal force” against the Houthis until they stop targeting American warships. He accused the group of conducting 170 attacks on US Navy ships and 145 on commercial vessels.
“There is a very clear end-state to this operation, and that begins the moment that the Houthis pledge to stop attacking our ships and putting American lives at risk,” he remarked.
The spokesman emphasized that the Yemeni militants “could stop this tomorrow… but they have clearly chosen not to do that.” As a result, he warned that the US “campaign will be relentless to degrade their capability.”
Air Force Lieutenant General Alexus Grynkewich, director of operations for the Joint Chiefs of Staff, noted during the same briefing that the “initial wave” of US strikes had targeted more than 30 locations in Yemen, hitting training sites, drone infrastructure, arms depots, and command-and-control centers.
On Monday, Trump stated that the Houthi attacks “emanate from, and are created by, Iran,” asserting that from this point on, any attack by the Yemeni group would be regarded as an act from Tehran. “Iran will be held responsible, and suffer the consequences, and those consequences will be dire,” he posted on Truth Social.
Tehran, which has repeatedly denied any involvement with Houthi operations, condemned the US airstrikes as a blatant violation of the UN Charter and a significant threat to regional and international peace and security.
The Houthis responded later that day, declaring that despite the US strikes, they would continue to target vessels off Yemen's coast “until aid and basic needs are delivered to the Gaza Strip.”
Anna Muller contributed to this article for TROIB News
Washington plans to continue its strikes against Houthi militants until they halt their assaults on US Navy ships that are protecting commercial vessels off the coast of Yemen, Parnell stated during his initial briefing as the Pentagon's new spokesman.
On Saturday, US President Donald Trump issued a warning to the Houthis, indicating that powerful military action would be taken to restore freedom of navigation in the Red Sea.
Since October 2023, the Ansar Allah movement, commonly known as the Houthis, has launched a series of drones and missiles at commercial vessels bound for Israel, disrupting vital shipping routes in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. The group claims its actions are in support of the Palestinians amidst Israel’s military operations in Gaza.
During Monday’s briefing, Parnell made it clear that the US would continue to use “overwhelming, lethal force” against the Houthis until they stop targeting American warships. He accused the group of conducting 170 attacks on US Navy ships and 145 on commercial vessels.
“There is a very clear end-state to this operation, and that begins the moment that the Houthis pledge to stop attacking our ships and putting American lives at risk,” he remarked.
The spokesman emphasized that the Yemeni militants “could stop this tomorrow… but they have clearly chosen not to do that.” As a result, he warned that the US “campaign will be relentless to degrade their capability.”
Air Force Lieutenant General Alexus Grynkewich, director of operations for the Joint Chiefs of Staff, noted during the same briefing that the “initial wave” of US strikes had targeted more than 30 locations in Yemen, hitting training sites, drone infrastructure, arms depots, and command-and-control centers.
On Monday, Trump stated that the Houthi attacks “emanate from, and are created by, Iran,” asserting that from this point on, any attack by the Yemeni group would be regarded as an act from Tehran. “Iran will be held responsible, and suffer the consequences, and those consequences will be dire,” he posted on Truth Social.
Tehran, which has repeatedly denied any involvement with Houthi operations, condemned the US airstrikes as a blatant violation of the UN Charter and a significant threat to regional and international peace and security.
The Houthis responded later that day, declaring that despite the US strikes, they would continue to target vessels off Yemen's coast “until aid and basic needs are delivered to the Gaza Strip.”
Anna Muller contributed to this article for TROIB News
