The United States and Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen are both promising to intensify their actions following recent US airstrikes. These strikes were intended to stop the rebels from attacking military and commercial ships in one of the world's busiest shipping routes.

According to the Houthi-run Health Ministry, the US airstrikes resulted in the deaths of at least 53 people, including five women and two children. Nearly 100 others were injured in the capital, Sanaa, and other regions such as Saada, which is the rebels' stronghold near the Saudi Arabian border. "We're not going to have these people controlling which ships can go through and which ones cannot. And so your question is, how long will this go on? It will go on until they no longer have the capability to do that," US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told CBS on Sunday. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump on Saturday warned that the U.S. would use powerful and deadly force against the Houthis unless they stop their attacks. He also stated that Iran would be held fully responsible for the Houthis' actions.

The Houthis have repeatedly attacked ships in the Red Sea, sinking two vessels. They claim these actions are in support of Palestinians in Gaza, where Israel has been engaged in a conflict with Hamas, another Iranian ally. The attacks paused in January when a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas began, just a day before Donald Trump assumed office. However, last week, the Houthis announced they would resume attacks on Israeli vessels after Israel halted the flow of humanitarian aid to Gaza this month. There have been no reports of Houthi attacks since then. The recent US airstrikes were among the most significant strikes against the Houthis since the Gaza war started in October 2023.

On Sunday, Trump's national security adviser, Mike Waltz, told ABC that the strikes successfully targeted several Houthi leaders, though he didn't name them or provide evidence. Senator Marco Rubio added that some Houthi facilities were also destroyed.

During his address telecasted on Sunday, Abdul-Malik al-Houthi, the rebels' leader, said, “We will confront escalation with escalation.” He added, “We will respond to the American enemy in its raids, in its attacks, with missile strikes, by targeting its aircraft carrier, its warships, its ships, al-Houthi said. However, we also still have escalation options. If it continues its aggression, we will move to additional escalation options.” He did not provide further details. The Houthis have attacked US warships and downed American drones operating over Yemen.

On Sunday, the rebels claimed they had launched missiles and a drone at the USS Harry S. Truman carrier strike group. A US official reported that the Houthis launched drones and at least one missile in response to a US attack. Speaking anonymously, the official stated that starting around midnight local time in Yemen, the Houthis fired 11 drones and one missile over a span of about 12 hours. US Air Force fighter jets intercepted 10 of the drones, while a Navy F/A-18 fighter jet took down the remaining one. The missile landed in the water, far from any ships, posing no threat to the carrier or its accompanying warships.

The spokesperson for U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged all parties involved to show maximum restraint and stop military activities, warning that the situation in Yemen — the poorest country in the Arab world — is already facing a severe humanitarian crisis. Meanwhile, Rubio stated that in the past 18 months, the Houthis had launched 174 attacks on the U.S. Navy and targeted commercial ships 145 times using guided precision anti-ship weapons. The recent attacks led to the most intense combat the U.S. Navy has faced since World War II.

On Sunday, Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard chief, Gen. Hossein Salami, denied any involvement in the Houthi attacks. He claimed that Iran does not influence the national or operational decisions of the militant groups it supports in the region, as reported by state-run TV. Iran's Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, posted on X urging the United States to stop its airstrikes, stating that Washington cannot control Iran's foreign policy.

The US and its allies have repeatedly accused Iran of supplying military support to the rebels. The US Navy has also claimed to have seized Iranian-made missile parts and other weapons that were reportedly intended for the Houthis. The United States, Israel, and Britain had earlier targeted Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen. However, this recent operation was carried out solely by the United States, marking the first strike against the Houthis under President Trump's second term. The USS Harry S. Truman carrier strike group, which includes the aircraft carrier, three Navy destroyers, and one cruiser, took part in the mission. Additionally, the USS Georgia, a cruise missile submarine, has also been operating in the region.