US Strike Eliminates Houthi Missile Mastermind; Trump Urges Relentless Force: Everything We Know
The White House recently announced that a U.S. airstrike in Yemen earlier this month resulted in the death of the Houthis’ top missile expert. However, confirmation from the U.S. military remains elusive, further clouding the identity of the deceased Houthi commander. National Security Advisor Mike Waltz indicated in an interview with CBS News and in a text chat revealed by The Atlantic that the initial strike had successfully killed the “head missileer” of the Houthis. Waltz noted, “The first target – their top missile guy – we had positive ID of him walking into his girlfriend’s building and it’s now collapsed.”
President Donald Trump echoed the sentiment on his social media platform, touting the decimation of Houthi capabilities due to relentless strikes since March 15. He claimed that U.S. forces have been hitting the group “Harder and harder” day and night. Despite these assertions, anonymous sources close to U.S. officials informed Reuters of a lack of independent U.S. military confirmation regarding the strike’s target, highlighting the unusual absence of Pentagon affirmation following a White House announcement of such a critical military operation.
The anonymity surrounding the deceased individual’s identity persists, as the White House has directed inquiries to the U.S. military, which has declined to confirm the death or release the person’s name, even after repeated requests. Efforts to obtain comments from Houthi representatives have been unsuccessful due to the timing coinciding with the Muslim Eid al-Fitr holiday.
Speculation exists about who was targeted in the strike. The Foundation for Defense of Democracies speculates that Abdul Khaliq Badruddin Al-Houthi, known as the de-facto commander of the Strategic Missile Forces, might have been the likely target. However, Mohammed Albasha, a researcher with The Basha Report, states no senior figures like Al-Houthi have been identified among the more than 40 Houthi fighters reportedly killed in March airstrikes. However, Albasha noted that the Houthis often delay announcing the deaths of key leaders, especially those within secretive roles such as missile forces.
The situation’s tension escalated with President Trump warning of ongoing U.S. military action against the Houthis until their threat to shipping lanes is neutralized. Trump issued a stark warning, promising “real pain” if the Houthis and their Iranian backers continue their hostile actions. “The choice for the Huthis is clear: Stop shooting at US ships, and we will stop shooting at you,” Trump declared on his Truth Social platform.
In response, the Yemeni military refuted the effectiveness of the U.S. strikes, arguing that they “did not achieve a military objective.” They declared that their actions would only cease once substantive hindrances were met.
Adding to the conflict, Houthi media reported two U.S. strikes on Kamaran Island near Hodeida, claiming these to be part of the continued military offensive designed to protect critical maritime routes. Since the U.S. escalation began on March 15, attacks on Houthi-controlled territories have been frequent, with reports from rebel sources detailing sustained targeting of U.S. military vessels and Israel, despite U.S. claims of having neutralized senior Houthi figures during initial operations.
This ongoing conflict continues to draw international attention and scrutiny, especially regarding its implications for U.S.-Middle Eastern relations, and underscores the complexity and opacity often surrounding military engagements in the region.
Original Source: https://www.livemint.com/news/world/us-claims-it-killed-houthis-top-missile-expert-in-recent-strike-trump-says-hit-them-harder-everyday-what-we-know-11743464619181.html
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Publish Date: 2025-04-01 05:43:00
