Trump Targets Houthis As Biden Faces Policy Scrutiny

Man speaking at microphone with finger pointing forward

President Trump orders devastating airstrikes against Houthi rebels in Yemen, reversing years of controversial Biden policies that critics say emboldened the Iran-backed group.

Key Insights

Trump has authorized aggressive military action against Yemen’s Houthi rebels, warning “HELL WILL RAIN DOWN UPON YOU” if attacks on shipping continue.
The Houthis have severely disrupted global shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, threatening commercial vessels and U.S. naval assets.
Biden’s 2021 decision to remove the Houthis from the terrorist list is being scrutinized as having potentially emboldened the group’s regional aggression.
The operation aims to both degrade Houthi military capabilities and send a strong message to their Iranian backers.
Trump’s actions signal renewed American commitment to Saudi Arabia and regional security after years of strained relations under the previous administration.

Trump Takes Decisive Military Action

President Donald Trump has launched a series of coordinated military strikes against Houthi positions throughout Yemen, targeting the group’s bases, leadership, and missile defense systems. The operation comes in response to escalating Houthi attacks on commercial shipping lanes that have disrupted global trade routes since late 2023. The president announced the military action on Truth Social, making it clear that the strikes are intended to protect American assets and restore freedom of navigation in critical waterways that have been under threat from the Iran-backed militant group.

The Houthis have reported numerous explosions in their territory, including in Sanaa and Saada, with airstrikes continuing across multiple provinces. In a show of defiance, the group claimed to have launched missiles and a drone at the USS Harry S Truman, though no damage to U.S. naval assets has been confirmed. The dramatic escalation represents a sharp turn from previous policies and establishes a more aggressive American posture in the region.

Biden’s Policies Under Scrutiny

The current military campaign has reignited debate over the previous administration’s handling of the Houthi threat. In February 2021, President Biden announced the end of U.S. offensive support for the Saudi-led coalition fighting against the Houthis and removed the group from the U.S. Foreign Terrorist Organization list. The policy shift was presented as part of a humanitarian approach and support for UN-led ceasefire initiatives in Yemen, but critics argue it produced the opposite of its intended effect.

“Biden’s early appeasement of the Houthis, lifting them from the terror list with nothing in return, emboldened their aggression,” said Saudi geopolitical analyst Salman Al-Ansari.

Jonathan Schanzer, Senior Vice President at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, noted the political dimension of the conflict, saying: “Biden made the Houthis a partisan issue when he de-listed the Houthis. This has prompted Trump to target the Houthis more aggressively. And it doesn’t hurt that weakening the Houthis will signal to the Saudis that America is back as an ally of Saudi Arabia after four years of ambivalence by the Biden White House.” The Houthis have since expanded their operations, launching attacks not only on shipping but also against Israel.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has framed the strikes as evidence that the U.S. fears the growing strength of Yemen's Houthi rebels. https://t.co/93DaZ5nhqq

— Newsweek (@Newsweek) March 17, 2025

Warning to Iran and Regional Implications

The U.S. strikes are widely interpreted as a dual-purpose operation, targeting the Houthis while simultaneously sending a clear warning to Iran. Tehran has consistently denied direct control over Houthi operations, with Revolutionary Guards commander Hossein Salami claiming: “We have always declared, and we declare today, that the Yemenis are an independent and free nation in their own land and have an independent national policy.” However, U.S. intelligence continues to indicate substantial Iranian support for the group.

“That which has caused the US and its allies to panic today is the fact that the Muslim nations are standing firmly and that this resistance will prove to be effective,” said Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in response to the American operation.

President Trump has directly addressed Iran’s role, warning Tehran against supporting the Houthis: “If you do, BEWARE, because America will hold you fully accountable and, we won’t be nice about it!” The strong stance represents a significant pivot in American Middle East policy, with renewed emphasis on traditional alliances with Saudi Arabia and a more confrontational approach toward Iran and its proxies. Defense experts suggest the strikes may be part of a broader strategy to restore regional stability and protect vital economic interests.