The United States airstrikes in Yemen came a few days after Houthis warned of resuming the attacks on Israeli vessels sailing off its coast in response to Israel's latest blockade on Gaza.
The US launched a 'targeted' military operation on Saturday night in Yemen against Iran-backed Houthis. The death toll from the US strikes rose to 31.
Ministry spokesperson Anees al-Asbahi stated on Sunday that over 100 people were injured in the overnight strikes.
Why did the US target Houthis now?
Over 100 merchant and military vessels were targeted by the Houthis in the Red Sea till January since the Gaza war began in October 2023. The attacks have sunk two ships and killed four sailors.
Houthis claim to be acting in support of Palestinians, attacking vessels linked to Israel and its allies. However, some of these ships had no clear connection to the conflict.
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US President Donald Trump said that the strikes were necessary to "protect American shipping, air, and naval assets, and to restore navigational freedom."
A message for Iran
The attack also serves as a message for Iran, a key backer of the Houthis, and Hamas. Trump had warned that Iran would be "fully accountable" for Houthi actions.
Meanwhile, Iran once again denied helping the Houthis. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi urged the US to halt the strikes and said Washington cannot dictate Iran's foreign policy.
Chief of Iran's Revolutionary Guards Gen. Hossein Salami said that Yemen's Houthis take strategic and operational decisions on their own. Salami also threatened a "decisive and devastating" response to any attack after the US's Yemen strikes.
"We are not a nation to live in hiding. We are a valid and legitimate system in the world," he said.
Recently, the Trump administration reached out to Iran to resume the nuclear talks. Trump wrote a letter to Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei seeking negotiations on the nuclear deal. However, Iran had rejected talks.