15 people were killed in strikes on Yemen’s capital Sanaa on Saturday, Houthi rebels said, after US President Donald Trump announced an attack on the Iran-backed group.
Another nine people were wounded in the first US strikes on the Houthis, in Trump’s response to the Houthis’ vow to attack Red Sea shipping again, in retaliation for Israel’s refusal to move onto the second phase of the ceasefire in Gaza.
The rebels’ Al-Masirah TV station said an “American-British aggression raided a residential neighbourhood in the Shuub district” in Sanaa. It later reported such a strike on the Houthi stronghold of Saada.
In a post on social media, Trump vowed to “use overwhelming lethal force until we have achieved our objective”, citing the Huthis’ threats against Red Sea shipping.
The Huthis hit back in a statement on Al-Masirah vowing that the strikes “will not pass without response”.
“Our Yemeni armed forces are fully prepared to confront escalation with escalation,” the rebels’ political bureau said.
Trump also warned Iran that it must “immediately” cut support to the rebels.
