US says airstrikes in Yemen ‘took out’ multiple Houthi leaders
SMA NEWS – WASHINGTON
US National Security Adviser Mike Waltz has said that airstrikes in Yemen took out multiple Houthi leaders, amid escalation over attacks by the Yemeni group on shipping in the Red Sea.
“These were not kind of pinprick, back-and-forth – what ultimately proved to be feckless attacks. This was an overwhelming response that actually targeted multiple Houthi leaders and took them out.” Waltz told ABC News on Sunday.
He said that the latest strikes were different from the attacks carried out under the former administration of Joe Biden.
“The difference here is, one, going after the Houthi leadership, and two, holding Iran responsible,” he said.
Waltz said Iran was responsible for funding and training the Houthis and helping the Yemeni group in its attacks against US warships.
At least 53 people were killed and 98 others injured in US-UK airstrikes on Yemen on Saturday, according to the Houthi-run Health Ministry.
The attacks came as US President Donald Trump warned that “hell will rain down” if the Iran-backed group continues its attacks on Red Sea shipping.
