Iran denies aiding Houthis after US strikes and Trump threat

Iran has once again dismissed claims that it is aiding Yemen’s Houthi rebels following a series of U.S. airstrikes against the group. The strikes were carried out after President Donald Trump warned that Tehran would be held fully responsible for the Houthis’ actions.

According to the Houthi-run Health Ministry, the airstrikes resulted in the deaths of at least 31 people, including women and children, and left more than 100 others injured. The rebels reported that one of the strikes hit two homes in northern Saada province, killing four children and a woman. Their Al-Masirah TV channel aired footage showing what it claimed were the victims of the attack.

The Houthis have previously targeted international shipping in the Red Sea and launched missile and drone attacks against Israel, which they said were in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. The attacks had ceased following the fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in January, but the Houthis recently threatened to resume them after Israel restricted humanitarian aid to Gaza.

U.S. Accusations and Iran’s Response

The U.S. has long accused Iran of supplying military support to the Houthis. American naval forces have intercepted shipments of Iranian-made missile components and weapons allegedly bound for the militant group, which controls northern Yemen and the capital, Sanaa.

However, Gen. Hossein Salami, commander of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, rejected the accusations, stating that Iran does not dictate the operational policies of its regional allies. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also called for an end to U.S. airstrikes, insisting that Washington cannot impose its will on Iran’s foreign policy.

U.S. Military Action and Maritime Security

President Trump reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to using overwhelming force until the Houthis end their attacks on maritime traffic in the Red Sea. The latest U.S. airstrikes followed renewed threats from the Houthis to resume attacks on Israeli-linked vessels in response to Israel’s continued blockade of Gaza.

During their previous campaign, the Houthis targeted over 100 merchant ships with missiles and drones, sinking two and causing the deaths of four sailors between October 2023 and January 2024, when the ceasefire in Gaza took effect.

While the U.S., Israel, and the U.K. have previously launched joint strikes against Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen, the latest operation was carried out solely by the United States. It marked the first U.S. strike against the Houthis under Trump’s second administration.