On Saturday, U.S. forces unleashed a barrage of airstrikes on dozens of Houthi-linked sites spanning six Yemeni provinces: Sana’a, Saada, Dhamar, Al-Bayda, Marib, and Hajjah. Authorized by President Donald Trump as part of a bolder strategy, the campaign sought to target Houthi military infrastructure, command centers, and residences of key leaders.

Explosions rocked southern Sana’a’s Attan area early Sunday, following strikes on Al-Jaraf—the Houthis’ political hub—along with drone workshops and ammunition depots. In Saada, multiple Houthi strongholds were hit, with additional strikes targeting sites in Dhamar, Al-Bayda, Hajjah, and Marib. The Houthis reported 19 deaths and 20 injuries, promising retaliation.

Trump defended the operation as vital to protecting Red Sea trade routes from Houthi attacks. Reuters reported that U.S. officials confirmed aircraft from the USS Harry S. Truman in the Red Sea supported the strikes, with further operations anticipated in the coming days. Pentagon officials emphasized disrupting Iran’s funding of groups like the Houthis, while a national security advisor blamed prior U.S. policies for strengthening the group.