Iranian General Vows 'Destructive' Response to Trump’s Houthi Strikes

An Iranian general has issued a stern warning in response to U.S. military strikes against Houthi rebels in Yemen, following President Donald Trump’s directive for military action. Gen. Hossein Salami, leader of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, stated that Iran would respond "decisively and destructively" to any perceived threats. "We are not a nation to live in hiding. We are a valid and legitimate system in the world. We announce it if we attack anywhere," Salami declared to state media, as reported by Reuters.

President Trump, not known for mincing words, delivered a fiery message Monday, claiming that every Houthi attack would now be seen as an act directed by Iran. "Iran will be held responsible, and suffer the consequences, and those consequences will be dire!" he proclaimed on Truth Social. He didn’t stop there, accusing Iran of orchestrating and funding the Houthis' violent activities and providing them with sophisticated weaponry and intelligence.

Over the weekend, U.S. Central Command launched precision strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen, aiming to protect American interests and restore freedom of navigation in the region. These actions come after repeated Houthi attacks on U.S.-flagged commercial ships and a U.S. Navy warship in the Red Sea. Trump emphasized the economic and human costs of these assaults, warning the Houthis, "YOUR TIME IS UP, AND YOUR ATTACKS MUST STOP, STARTING TODAY. IF THEY DON’T, HELL WILL RAIN DOWN UPON YOU LIKE NOTHING YOU HAVE EVER SEEN BEFORE!" Subtlety clearly isn’t part of the strategy here.

The Houthis, however, are not backing down. Their leader, Abdul-Malik al-Houthi, vowed retaliation, threatening missile strikes on U.S. warships and aircraft carriers. "We will confront escalation with escalation," he said, leaving little room for compromise. The group claims that the U.S. strikes have already resulted in 53 deaths and around 100 injuries.

Meanwhile, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth promised an "unrelenting" campaign against Houthi targets until they cease their attacks on U.S. assets. In an interview with Fox News, Hegseth stated, "The minute the Houthis say 'we'll stop shooting at your ships, we'll stop shooting at your drones,' this campaign will end, but until then, it will be unrelenting."

U.S. warships have reportedly neutralized roughly a dozen Houthi drones aimed at the Navy’s Truman Carrier Strike Group since Saturday. A senior defense official confirmed the drones were intercepted "well before" they posed a serious threat.

This escalating conflict underscores the fragile dynamics in the region, where proxy battles often blur the lines between local and international actors. With both sides exchanging increasingly ominous threats, the situation in Yemen appears set to remain a powder keg for the foreseeable future.