President Donald Trump said he ordered a series of airstrikes on the Houthi-held areas in Yemen on Saturday, promising to use “overwhelming lethal force” until the Iran-backed rebels cease their attacks on shipping along a vital maritime corridor. The Houthis said at least 31 people were killed, and Trump's national security adviser said Sunday that the strikes had successfully targeted “multiple” Houthi leaders.
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00:00We expressed concern yesterday at the launching of multiple strikes on Houthi-controlled areas
00:04in Yemen by the United States in recent days.
00:07According to the Houthis, the airstrikes resulted in 53 deaths and 101 injuries, reported from
00:13Sana'a City, Saada and Al-Baida governorates, including reports of civilian casualties,
00:19and led to disruptions in the power supply in nearby localities.
00:23We are also concerned about the continued threats by the Houthis to resume their attacks
00:27targeting merchant and commercial vessels in the Red Sea, as well as about the reported
00:31attacks against military vessels in the area.
00:35We call for utmost restraint and a cessation of all military activities.
00:39Any additional escalation could exacerbate regional tensions, fuel cycles of retaliation
00:45that may further destabilize Yemen and the region, and pose grave risks to the already
00:50dire humanitarian situation in the country.
00:53We emphasize that international law, including international humanitarian law as applicable,
00:59must be respected by all parties, at all times.
01:03We underscore that UN Security Council Resolution 2768, related to Houthi attacks against merchants
01:10and commercial vessels, must be fully respected.
01:13Every shot fired by the Houthis will be looked upon, from this point forward, as being a
01:17shot fired from the weapons and leadership of Iran, and Iran will be held responsible
01:23and suffer the consequences, and those consequences will be dire.
01:26That is a statement from the President of the United States just moments ago.
01:30I have nothing additional to share, but our message to Iran is you better take this President
01:35seriously, and I think the Houthis learned that the hard way this past weekend.
01:39As I said in my opening remarks, there's a new sheriff in town, and this President is
01:42not just going to sit on his hands and allow terrorists to launch attacks on commercial
01:48vessels and U.S. naval ships.
01:50Those actions will not be tolerated.