US Military Downs Houthi Drones Amid Trump's Decisive Strikes

U.S. military forces have intercepted and destroyed approximately a dozen drones launched by Houthi militants. The strikes come in the wake of President Donald Trump's directive for decisive military action against the group, according to a senior defense official who disclosed the developments on Sunday.

The drones, targeting the Truman Carrier Strike Group in the Red Sea, were reportedly neutralized "well before" they posed a serious threat, showcasing the Navy's relentless vigilance. This latest operation follows a year and a half of escalating Houthi attacks on both commercial vessels and U.S. military ships.

In a fiery Truth Social post, Trump declared, "I ordered the United States Military to launch decisive and powerful Military action against the Houthi terrorists in Yemen." He also highlighted the severe disruption to American shipping caused by the group's actions, noting, "It has been over a year since a U.S.-flagged commercial ship safely sailed through the Suez Canal, the Red Sea, or the Gulf of Aden." The president minced no words, warning 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!"

Trump's re-designation of the Houthis as a foreign terrorist organization (FTO) in January reinstated a policy from his first administration, which had been reversed under President Biden. The move underscores the administration's hardline stance on deterring threats to American economic and national security.

Visuals released by the White House depict Trump alongside Secretary of State Marco Rubio and National Security Advisor Mike Waltz monitoring the strikes. The administration emphasized on X, "President Trump is taking action against the Houthis to defend US shipping assets and deter terrorist threats. Not under this presidency will American economic & national threats be left unchecked."

The military escalation aims to restore safe passage for U.S.-flagged commercial ships in critical waterways like the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, a goal that has been elusive for over a year.