Houthis vow retaliation amid US airstrikes
Trump promises the US will use 'overwhelming lethal force' against the Houthis until they stop attacking Red Sea ships


What happened
Yemen's Houthi-run health ministry said Sunday that large-scale U.S. airstrikes over the weekend killed at least 53 people, including women and children. Houthi leaders vowed retaliation and targeted U.S. warships, though their drones and missiles were intercepted. President Donald Trump said Saturday that the U.S. would use "overwhelming lethal force" against the Houthis until they stopped attacking ships in the Red Sea. U.S. officials said the strikes could continue for weeks.
Who said what
The Houthis suspended their yearlong campaign against commercial ships in January after Israel and Hamas agreed to a ceasefire in Gaza. They threatened to restart the attacks last week but have not done so yet. "We will confront escalation with escalation," Houthi leader Abdul-Malik al-Houthi said in a televised speech last night. If the "American enemy" continues its "aggression, we will move to additional escalation options" beyond attacking warships.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Fox News' "Sunday Morning Futures" that the "unrelenting" U.S. strike would continue until "the minute the Houthis say, 'We'll stop shooting at your ships, we'll stop shooting at your drones.'" Secretary of State Marco Rubio told CBS News the U.S. would keep attacking until the Houthis "no longer have the capability" to constrain Red Sea shipping traffic.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
What next?
Trump "joins a succession of U.S. presidents" in ordering strikes on the Houthis, The Wall Street Journal said, but so far the Iran-backed group's "own attacks and defiant response to Western airstrikes" have only boosted their global stature and "popularity in the Arab world." It's "absurd" to think "this massive wave of airstrikes" will cow the Houthis, Mohammed Albasha, founder of U.S.-based Middle East security advisory Basha Report, told the newspaper. "They're going to retaliate and retaliate severely. It's going to be a vicious cycle."
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
5 low approval cartoons about poll numbers
Cartoons Artists take on fake pollsters, shared disapproval, and more
-
Deepfakes and impostors: the brave new world of AI jobseeking
In The Spotlight More than 80% of large companies use AI in their hiring process, but increasingly job candidates are getting in on the act
-
Sudoku medium: May 4, 2025
The Week's daily medium sudoku puzzle
-
US, Ukraine sign joint minerals deal
speed read The Trump administration signed a deal with Ukraine giving the US access to its mineral wealth
-
Israel launches air strike on Beirut suburbs
Speed Read The attack targeting Hezbollah was Israel's third on the Lebanese capital since November's ceasefire
-
Dozens dead in Kashmir as terrorists target tourists
Speed Read Visitors were taking pictures and riding ponies in a popular mountain town when assailants open fired, killing at least 26
-
Israel blames 'failures' for killing of medics
speed read 14 Gaza medics and 1 U.N. employee were killed by IDF special forces
-
China accuses NSA of Winter Games cyberattacks
speed read China alleges that the U.S. National Security Agency launched cyberattacks during the Asian Winter Games in February
-
Russian strike kills dozens in Ukraine
Speed Read The Sumy ballistic missile strike was Russia's deadliest attack on civilians this year
-
Yemen is the next humanitarian crisis in the Middle East
In the Spotlight The country has been dealing with humanitarian issues for years that are being exacerbated by war
-
South Korea court removes impeached president
Speed Read The Constitutional Court upheld the impeachment of Yoon Suk Yeol after his declaration of martial law in December