The United States declared its military campaign against the Iran-backed Houthis will persist until the group halts attacks on American assets and global shipping. 
The campaign, initiated by orders from President Donald Trump, includes extensive airstrikes across six Houthi-held provinces, such as Sana’a, Saada, Dhamar and al-Baydha.

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, speaking to Fox News, linked the strikes to repeated Houthi attacks on vessels since 2023. “"The minute the Houthis say we'll stop shooting at your ships, we'll stop shooting at your drones. This campaign will end, but until then it will be unrelenting," he said. 

"This is about stopping the shooting at assets ... in that critical waterway, to reopen freedom of navigation, which is a core national interest of the United States, and Iran has been enabling the Houthis for far too long," he said. 

Secretary of State Marco Rubio added that the strikes aim to eliminate the Houthis' ability to attack vessels, emphasizing Iran’s role in enabling the group's aggression.
US President Donald Trump, posting on social media, also vowed to "use overwhelming lethal force" to end the Houthi attacks.

"To all Houthi 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 wrote.