The primary US strikes against Yemen’s Houthis since Donald Trump took workplace killed 31 folks, the rebels stated Sunday (Mar 16), with the US president warning “hell will rain down upon” the Iran-backed group if it didn’t cease attacking transport.
The Houthis, who’ve attacked Israel and Crimson Sea transport all through the Gaza conflict, stated kids had been amongst these killed.
An AFP photographer within the rebel-held capital Sanaa heard explosions and noticed plumes of smoke rising.
Assaults on Sanaa, in addition to on areas in Saada, Al-Bayda and Radaa, killed no less than 31 folks and wounded 101, “most of whom had been kids and girls”, Houthi well being ministry spokesperson Anis Al-Asbahi stated.
Footage on Houthi media confirmed kids and a girl amongst these being handled in a hospital emergency room, together with a dazed lady with blackened legs wrapped in bandages.
Trump, in a submit on social media, vowed to “use overwhelming deadly pressure” to finish the Houthi assaults, which the rebels say are in solidarity with Palestinians amid the Gaza conflict.
“To all Huthi 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!” he stated.
Trump additionally issued a stern warning to the group’s principal backer.
“To Iran: Assist for the Houthi terrorists should finish IMMEDIATELY!” he stated.
“Do NOT threaten the American Individuals, their President … or Worldwide transport lanes. In case you do, BEWARE, as a result of America will maintain you totally accountable and, we cannot be good about it!”
The Houthis vowed the strikes “won’t move with out response”, whereas Iran’s prime diplomat Abbas Araghchi condemned the deaths and stated Washington had “no authority” to dictate Tehran’s international coverage.
The Houthi Ansarullah web site slammed what it referred to as Washington’s “prison brutality”.
US Central Command, which posted movies of fighter jets taking off and a bomb demolishing a compound, stated “precision strikes” had been launched to “defend American pursuits, deter enemies, and restore freedom of navigation”.