Key Takeaways:

• US President Donald Trump ordered extensive airstrikes against Houthi-held areas in Yemen, resulting in significant casualties, with reports indicating at least 53 fatalities, including numerous civilians.
• The airstrikes mark the largest military operation in the Middle East since Trump assumed office again, aimed primarily at curbing Houthi attacks on shipping routes in the Red Sea.
• In retaliation, Houthi leaders vowed to strike back against US vessels and continue their campaign, citing solidarity with Palestinians amid ongoing conflicts in Gaza.

President Trump initiated a series of military airstrikes on March 15, aimed at the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen, following reports of the group's attacks on maritime shipping in the Red Sea. The Houthi-run health ministry reported a rising death toll linked to the strikes, claiming that at least 53 individuals, including women and children, were killed during the bombardments across several regions including Saada and the capital, Sanaa. As the situation escalates, Trump's administration described the operation as necessary to restore freedom of navigation and protect American interests.

In a strong social media statement, Trump emphasized that “overwhelming lethal force” would be applied until the Houthis ceased all forms of aggression against shipping. The Houthis countered these actions by threatening to escalate further, vowing to target US naval assets in the region should the airstrikes continue. Houthi leader Abdul Malik al-Houthi expressed that any attacks against their forces or leaders would meet with decisive retaliation, effectively raising the stakes in this already volatile conflict.

National Security Advisor Michael Waltz confirmed that key Houthi figures were among those targeted in the strikes, framing the operation as a response to over 174 attacks on US and commercial vessels conducted by the Houthis since late 2023. Over 40 air raids were recorded, a clear signal to Iran, whom Trump accused of supporting the rebels.

Iran's Revolutionary Guards responded to the US strikes with threats of "decisive and destructive" measures should aggression against the Houthis persist. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi refuted US claims of having any authority to dictate Iran's foreign policy, reinforcing Iran's continued support for the Houthis, who they characterize as an independent ally in the ongoing regional conflict.

As the international community watches closely, Secretary of State Marco Rubio underscored the strategic importance of the Red Sea as a vital shipping route where nearly 12% of global trade occurs. This ongoing military engagement highlights the complexities of international relations amid an already critical humanitarian situation in Yemen.

For more details, see the full report from BBC.