News | International
16 Mar 2025 16:39
NZCity News
NZCity CalculatorReturn to NZCity

  • Start Page
  • Personalise
  • Sport
  • Weather
  • Finance
  • Shopping
  • Jobs
  • Horoscopes
  • Lotto Results
  • Photo Gallery
  • Site Gallery
  • TVNow
  • Dating
  • SearchNZ
  • NZSearch
  • Crime.co.nz
  • RugbyLeague
  • Make Home
  • About NZCity
  • Contact NZCity
  • Your Privacy
  • Advertising
  • Login
  • Join for Free

  •   Home > News > International

    United States launches air strikes on Yemen's rebel-occupied capital over Houthis' Red Sea attacks

    The strikes are the first to hit Yemen since the Gaza ceasefire deal took effect in January, and signal a more aggressive approach from the US, which has previously limited its actions to degrading the Houthis' ability to carry out missile and drone attacks.


    US President Donald Trump has launched military strikes against Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi rebels over the group's attacks against Red Sea shipping, warning "hell will rain down upon you" if the Houthis do not abandon their campaign.

    Mr Trump also warned Iran, the Houthis' main backer, that it needed to immediately halt support for the group, adding that if Iran threatened the United States "America will hold you fully accountable and, we won't be nice about it!"

    The unfolding US strikes, which a US official told the Reuters news agency would continue for days, if not weeks, represent the biggest US military operation in the Middle East since Mr Trump took office in January.

    They coincide with the US ramping up sanctions pressure on Tehran while trying to bring it to the negotiating table over its nuclear program.

    At least 13 civilians were killed and nine injured in US strikes on Yemen's capital Sanaa, according to the Houthi-run health ministry.

    Six others, including four children and one woman, were killed and 11 were injured in a US strike on the northern province of Saada, the Houthi-run Al-Masirah TV reported.

    The Houthis' political bureau described the attacks as a "war crime".

    "Our Yemeni armed forces are fully prepared to respond to escalation with escalation," it said in a statement.

    Residents in Sanaa said the strikes hit a building inside a Houthi stronghold.

    "The explosions were violent and shook the neighbourhood like an earthquake. They terrified our women and children," said Abdullah Yahia, who lives nearby.

    The Houthis have launched more than 100 missile and drone attacks targeting international shipping in the Red Sea since November 2023, saying they were in solidarity with Palestinians over Israel's war with Hamas in Gaza.

    Iran's other allies, Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon, have been severely weakened since the start of the conflict, while Syria's Bashar al-Assad, who was closely aligned with Tehran, was overthrown by rebels in December.

    But during this period, Yemen's Houthis have remained resilient and on the offensive, sinking two vessels, seizing another and killing at least four seafarers in an offensive that has disrupted global shipping, forcing firms to re-route to longer and more expensive journeys around southern Africa.

    The attacks initially targeted ships connected with or travelling to or from Israel, but ships with ties to Israeli allies the US or the United Kingdom have come under attack more recently.

    The previous US administration of president Joe Biden had launched strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen, but had limited US actions to degrading the group's ability to attack vessels off the country's coast.

    US officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, say Mr Trump has now authorised a more aggressive approach, which appeared to match his rhetoric on Saturday.

    "The Houthi attack on American vessels will not be tolerated. We will use overwhelming lethal force until we have achieved our objective," Mr Trump wrote.

    The attack marks the first strikes to hit Yemen since the Gaza ceasefire deal took effect in January.

    On Tuesday, the Houthis said they would resume attacks on Israeli ships passing through the Red and Arabian seas, the Bab al-Mandab Strait and the Gulf of Aden, ending a period of relative calm starting in January with the Gaza ceasefire.

    US ramps up nuclear pressure on Iran

    The US attacks came just days after a letter from Mr Trump was delivered to Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, seeking talks over Iran's nuclear program.

    Mr Khamenei on Wednesday rejected the notion of holding negotiations with the United States.

    Still, Tehran is increasingly concerned that mounting public anger over economic hardships could erupt into mass protests, four Iranian officials told Reuters.

    Last year, Israeli strikes on Iranian facilities, including missile factories and air defences, in retaliation for Iranian missile and drone attacks, reduced Tehran's conventional military capabilities, according to US officials.

    Iran has denied wanting to develop a nuclear weapon. However, it is dramatically accelerating its enrichment of uranium to up to 60 per cent purity, which the UN's nuclear watchdog has warned will make it easier to reach the roughly 90 per cent enrichment needed for weapons-grade material.

    Western states say there is no need to enrich uranium to such a high level under any civilian program, and that no other country has done so without producing nuclear bombs.

    Iran denies wanting to develop a nuclear weapon, saying its nuclear program is peaceful.

    Reuters/ABC

    © 2025 ABC Australian Broadcasting Corporation. All rights reserved

     Other International News
     16 Mar: Peruvian fisherman missing at sea for 95 days rescued and returned home to family
     16 Mar: Low-maintenance hydro plants are perfect for beginner gardeners
     16 Mar: US TV personality Wendy Williams says she's being denied her freedom
     16 Mar: Meta has given in to the global fight against fact-checking. What happens when truth becomes partisan?
     15 Mar: Iraq and Donald Trump announce killing of senior ISIS leader in attack by coalition forces
     15 Mar: Russian captain involved in North Sea cargo ship crash charged with manslaughter and gross negligence
     15 Mar: How the Brabham-Repco team ended years of European dominance in Formula 1
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    Macca Springer might have his work cut out for him at Crusaders training on Monday, despite scoring a record-equalling five tries in their Super Rugby win over the Force in Christchurch More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    New Zealand's beef industry is confident of its necessity in the United States, despite the likelihood of tariffs from the Trump administration More...



     Today's News

    Cricket:
    Pakistan have posted a dismal 91 all out batting after being sent into bat in the first T20 against the Black Caps in Christchurch 16:17

    Motoring:
    Two people have been taken to Auckland Hospital in a critical condition after a three vehicle crash on Great South Road in Penrose 15:37

    International:
    Peruvian fisherman missing at sea for 95 days rescued and returned home to family 14:57

    Law and Order:
    A Whangarei man has been charged with murder in relation to a homicide in the city yesterday 14:57

    Cricket:
    The White Ferns have set up a T20 series decider against Sri Lanka after winning game two by seven wickets in Christchurch 14:37

    Law and Order:
    A Whangarei community's feeling unsettled as Police launch a homicide investigation 14:27

    Golf:
    American JJ Spaun has the lead at the 54-hole mark in golf's Players Championship 13:47

    Motoring:
    And Supercars drivers in Melbourne getting a taste of the weather on track on Sky.. 13:07

    Environment:
    A reminder for early childhood centres to check their fences are compliant 12:27

    Rugby League:
    Warriors winger Dallin Watene-Zelezniak's revealed his thoughts around retirement from rugby league 11:57


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2025 New Zealand City Ltd