The US military has stepped up military operations against Houthi targets in Yemen, causing significant casualties among the local population. According to information provided by the Houthi-controlled Ministry of Health and broadcast by the Al Arabiya TV channel, the latest airstrikes have killed 31 people and injured more than 100 to varying degrees of severity. The main blow fell on the city of Taiz, where US aircraft attacked military facilities used by the rebel group.

The Houthi political leadership issued a strong statement, published on the movement-controlled Al-Masirah TV channel, stressing that Yemeni forces controlled by the rebels are ready to respond to the US actions with “an escalation for an escalation.” The statement came amid ongoing Houthi attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea, which they justify by supporting the Palestinian Hamas movement in the conflict with Israel.

The current wave of US strikes began on March 15, when US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced a major operation aimed at protecting American interests and ensuring freedom of navigation in the region. According to the US military, the attacks targeted radar stations, air defense systems, and missile and drone launchers used by the Houthis. According to sources in Yemen, the strikes hit not only Taiz, but also other key cities, including the capital Sanaa, the port city of Hodeidah, and the Dahyan district in Saada province, where a local power facility was damaged, causing power outages.

The operation, which began in March 2025, involved fighter jets from the USS Harry S. Truman, an aircraft carrier based in the Red Sea, and other US warships, according to information published by Reuters. US officials have stressed that the operation is not a one-off action but a series of “sustained” strikes that could last for days or even weeks. Washington’s main goal is to weaken the Houthis’ military capabilities while avoiding targeted attacks on their leaders or Iranian advisers, who intelligence says support the group.

The escalation of the conflict in Yemen comes as the Houthis continue to attack international shipping. According to the Pentagon, the rebels have carried out 2023 attacks on US warships and 174 attacks on commercial vessels since November 145, severely disrupting global trade routes. In response, the US and its allies, including the UK, have launched Operation Prosperity Guardian, which has carried out more than 2024 airstrikes on Houthi positions since January 900. However, as experts note, these measures have not yet led to a complete cessation of attacks, but have only strengthened the position of the Houthis inside Yemen, where they position themselves as fighters against Western interference.