On Wednesday, President Donald Trump characterized Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels as “barbarians” and predicted they will be “completely annihilated” by an increased US military operation against them. Mr Trump also cautioned Iran not to continue its support for the group.
On Saturday, the US military launched a series of massive strikes against the rebels. Washington has threatened overwhelming force unless they stop firing on maritime lanes in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.
Iran must stop the sending of these supplies IMMEDIATELY. Let the Houthis fight it out themselves. Either way they lose, but this way they lose quickly,” Mr Trump posted on his Truth Social platform. “Tremendous damage has been inflicted upon the Houthi barbarians, and watch how it will get progressively worse – It’s not even a fair fight, and never will be. They will be completely annihilated!
This month, Mr Trump wrote to Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, asking to hold negotiations on Tehran’s nuclear programme. Axios reported on Wednesday that the letter included a two-month ultimatum to strike a nuclear deal. The Houthis, who are part of Iran’s “axis of resistance” against the US and Israel, have targeted Red Sea vessels since the beginning of the Gaza conflict, claiming solidarity with Palestinians.
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