 "A fighter plane takes off, said to be, for an operation against the Yemen's Houthis at an unidentified location in this screengrab taken from a handout video released on March 18, 2025. US CENTCOM via X/Handout via REUTERS")
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and US President Donald Trump discussed mediation efforts to restore regional stability, which could positively affect Red Sea navigation and mitigate economic losses for all parties, the Egyptian presidency said on Tuesday.
Since Israel’s war with Hamas began in late 2023, Iran-aligned Houthi forces have launched over 100 attacks on shipping, claiming solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. These strikes have disrupted global trade and drawn the US military into a costly missile interception campaign.
Under Trump, the American operation against the Houthis appears more expansive than during Biden’s administration, shifting from targeting missile launch sites to striking senior personnel and conducting air raids on urban areas.
The new campaign of airstrikes, which the Houthis say have killed at least 61 people, started after the rebels threatened to begin targeting “Israeli” ships again over Israel blocking aid entering the Gaza Strip. The rebels have loosely defined what constitutes an Israeli ship, meaning many vessels could be targeted.
The Houthis had targeted over 100 merchant vessels with missiles and drones, sinking two vessels and killing four sailors from November 2023 until January of this year. They also launched attacks targeting American warships, though none has been hit so far.
The attacks greatly raised the Houthis’ profile as they faced economic problems and launched a crackdown targeting any dissent and aid workers at home amid Yemen’s decadelong stalemated war that has torn apart the Arab world’s poorest nation.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsPresident Trump issued a new warning Tuesday to the Houthis and their main benefactor, Iran, describing the group as being “decimated” by the campaign of strikes that began March 15.
“Many of their Fighters and Leaders are no longer with us,” Trump asserted on his social media website Truth Social. “We hit them every day and night — Harder and harder. Their capabilities that threaten Shipping and the Region are rapidly being destroyed. Our attacks will continue until they are no longer a threat to Freedom of Navigation.”
He added: “The choice for the Houthis is clear: Stop shooting at U.S. ships, and we will stop shooting at you. Otherwise, we have only just begun, and the real pain is yet to come, for both the Houthis and their sponsors in Iran.”
With inputs from agencies