US President Donald Trump has issued a strong statement against Yemen's Houthis, calling on them to immediately cease military action against US and international targets. In a speech published on the Truth Social platform, the head of the White House stressed that attacks by the Iran-backed group must stop and invited the Houthis to symbolically "raise a white flag" in surrender.

"Only in this case will we cease our actions," "Trump said, adding that otherwise the United States would be forced to use "crushing force" to defend its interests.

The US leader's statement was part of a broader rhetoric aimed at demonstrating a tough foreign policy line against the Houthis, whom Washington accuses of multiple attacks on commercial vessels and warships in the Red Sea. According to Trump, the group's actions have caused billions of dollars in damage to the global economy and put the lives of US civilians and service members at risk. The president paid special attention to the need to restore freedom of navigation in the region, stressing that "no terrorist force will be able to prevent American ships from freely navigating the world's waterways."

The context of the statement is related to the ongoing conflict in Yemen, where the Houthis, who control large parts of the country, including the capital Sanaa, have been fighting the internationally recognized government and the Saudi Arabia-led coalition since 2014. Since late 2023, the group has stepped up attacks on ships in the Red Sea, explaining their actions by supporting the Palestinian Hamas movement in the conflict with Israel. According to the US military, during this period, the Houthis attacked more than 100 commercial vessels, sinking two of them and killing four sailors. In response, the US and its allies have repeatedly struck Houthi military targets, but this has not led to a complete cessation of attacks.

As the conflict escalated, the Trump administration toughened its policy toward the Houthis. In early March 2025, the U.S. State Department, led by Marco Rubio, reclassified the group as a “foreign terrorist organization.” The measure, which was lifted by the Biden administration in 2021 due to humanitarian concerns, now imposes sanctions and restrictions on any individual or entity that provides support to the Houthis. The U.S. also launched a series of airstrikes on Houthi positions in Yemen on March 15, hitting weapons depots, launch pads, and drone control systems. According to U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), the operation was aimed at “protecting American interests and restoring freedom of navigation.” However, at least 31 people were killed and 101 wounded in the strikes, according to Reuters, prompting sharp criticism from the Houthis, who accused the U.S. of targeting civilian areas.