The conflict has intensified after the United States resumed its bombardments and aerial strikes over Yemen as a countermeasure to weaken the Houthis' ability to launch ballistic missiles towards Israel.
US President Donald Trump issued a new warning to both the Houthis and their main supporter, Iran, describing the group as having “been decimated” by the wave of strikes that began on 15 March.
“Many of their fighters and leaders are no longer with us,” Trump wrote on his social media platform, Truth Social.
“We hit them every day and night — harder and harder. Their capabilities that threaten shipping and the region are rapidly being destroyed. Our attacks will continue until they are no longer a threat to freedom of navigation,” he added.
He further warned: “The choice for the Houthis is clear: stop shooting at US ships, and we will stop shooting at you. Otherwise, we have only just begun, and the real pain is yet to come for both the Houthis and their sponsors in Iran.”
General Atomics Reapers, which cost approximately $30 million each, can fly at altitudes exceeding 40,000 feet (12,100 metres) and remain airborne for more than 30 hours. The aircraft have been deployed by both the US military and the CIA for years in operations over Afghanistan, Iraq, and now Yemen.
The Houthis claim they have shot down 20 MQ-9 drones over Yemen, 16 of which were reportedly destroyed amid their campaign related to the Gaza war.
The conflict escalated following the outbreak of the war on 7 October 2023, when Hamas launched an attack on Israeli territory, killing approximately 1,139 people and taking 250 others hostage.
Tensions have since intensified, leading Israel to conduct military operations that have reportedly violated territorial sovereignty in multiple countries, including war-torn Syria, Yemen, Iran, and Lebanon.
The situation has now reached a stage that could engulf the entire region in prolonged conflict, as Israel continues its military incursion into the occupied Gaza Strip.
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