On March 15, 2025, the Houthi movement in Yemen reported that U.S. and Israeli airstrikes targeted the capital, Sana'a, resulting in civilian casualties.

According to the Houthis, at least nine people were killed and nine others injured due to the bombings.

This escalation follows an announcement from President Donald Trump, who stated he had ordered a decisive military operation against the Houthis, which he described as 'terrorists.' Trump's statement emphasized that U.S. forces were conducting strikes on Houthi bases, leadership, and defenses to protect American shipping interests and restore maritime navigation freedom.

Trump further alleged that prior responses from the administration of former President Joe Biden to Houthi attacks had been 'pathetically weak,' enabling the group to persist in their aggressive actions.

He warned the Houthis to cease their attacks or face severe repercussions.

The U.S. Secretary of Defense indicated that a warning had been issued to Iran, which supports the Houthis, asserting that maritime mobility would be restored.

He reiterated the U.S. stance on not tolerating Houthi assaults on personnel and assets.

Reports from U.S. officials suggested that the military operation represented not a singular event but the commencement of a sustained campaign against the Houthis, which could continue for several days or weeks.

The Pentagon had reportedly been preparing for these operations for weeks, following the Houthi's re-designation as a terrorist organization.

Local sources quoted by the Houthi-controlled defense ministry described a series of intense airstrikes on various areas in Sana'a, including the Al-Jaraf neighborhood.

Al-Masirah, a Houthi-affiliated channel, confirmed multiple strikes had targeted residential areas, heightening concerns over civilian safety.

U.S. military actions involved the deployment of aircraft from the USS Harry S. Truman operating in the Red Sea, aimed at disabling Houthi radar and missile systems to ensure safe maritime routes were restored.

Furthermore, these strikes were perceived as a signal to Iran regarding its support for the Houthis.

The latest military escalation follows a period of relative quiet after the Houthis resumed targeting ships, particularly those associated with Israel, earlier in March, a move they claimed was in solidarity with Gaza amid ongoing conflicts there.

Since early 2024, U.S. and British forces have been conducting retaliatory operations against Houthi positions in Yemen in response to previous attacks on shipping.

Casualty figures in the latest strikes highlight concerns about the impact of military engagement on Yemeni civilians, with initial reports indicating that at least 15 civilians had been killed and 15 more injured in recent U.S. strikes on residential areas of Sana'a. Rescue operations were still ongoing as local authorities assessed damage to civilian infrastructure.

As the situation develops, the Houthi leadership has expressed intentions to respond proportionately to U.S. military actions, asserting that America's involvement in the conflict is unjustifiable and pledging to meet escalation with escalation.