Houthis says the strike led to 31 deaths. The US has not yet released estimates for deaths.
National Security Advisor Mikhaher Waltz said on March 16 that the Trump administration’s strike against Yemen’s Houtis had hit its leadership hard.
In an interview with “Fox News Sunday,” Waltz confirmed the strike and described the US-designated terrorist organization Houthis as “essentially al-Qaeda with sophisticated Iran-supported air defense and anti-fleet missiles and drones.”
“We killed some of their main leaders last night, killing their infrastructure, their missiles,” he said.
On Saturday, President Donald Trump ordered several airstrikes in areas owned by Hooty in Yemen, vowing to use “overwhelming deadly force” until Iranian terrorists end their attacks on important sea lanes.
Houthis said the strike led to at least 31 deaths, but those figures cannot be independently verified, and the US has yet to release estimates of deaths.
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While speaking on Sunday’s ABC’s “this week,” Waltz highlighted the threat to global shipping.
“Iran repeatedly funded, provided resources, trained and targeted not only the US warships, but two of the world’s most strategic ocean lanes. “Currently, 70% of global delivery is diverted to the South African area, increasing the cost of goods, disrupt the global economy, and adding or blocking supplies to the United States.”
Trump warned Iran to stop supporting terrorist organizations and vowed to retain a nation “completely accountable” for the actions of the Houtis.
Iran has denied direct involvement. General Hossein Salami, head of Iran’s paramilitary revolutionary security forces, said he would not play a role in setting national or operational policies in setting national or operational policies for alliance groups across the region.
Speaking to CBS’s “Face the Nation” on Sunday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Houthis has attacked or attacked 174 and 145 times, respectively, in the last 18 months.
“Essentially, we have a pirate band with guided precision ship weapons that strictly enforce paid systems in one of the world’s most important transport lanes. It’s just not sustainable,” he said.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegses said the airstrikes were “on the restoration of freedom of navigation and deterrence.”
“The campaign ends the moment Houthis says, ‘We’re stopping filming on your ship and stopping filming on your drone.’ But up until then, that would be merciless,” he told Fox News to “Sunday Morning Futures.”
Yemen’s Houthis targeted US aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman and its ballistic missiles and drones, group military spokesman Yahya Sarea said in a television statement on Sunday.
He said if Israel does not lift a block of aid into Gaza, the group will continue its attacks on Israeli ships passing through the Red Sea.
The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to the report.
