Trump Threatens Houthi Rebels          03/20 06:12

   

   DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) -- U.S. President Donald Trump threatened 
Yemen's Houthi rebels on Wednesday that they'll be "completely annihilated" as 
American airstrikes pounded locations under their control, while further 
pressuring the group's main benefactor Iran.

   Strikes hit Sanaa, Yemen's rebel-held capital, as well as their stronghold 
of Saada in the country's northwest on Wednesday night, the Houthi's al-Maisrah 
satellite news channel reported. It aired footage showing firefighters battling 
a blaze in Sanaa and damaged at what it described as a sheep farm in al-Jawf.

   It also said strikes happened overnight Tuesday, though the U.S. military 
has not offered a breakdown of places targeted since the airstrikes campaign 
began. The first strikes this weekend killed at least 53 people, including 
children, and wounded others.

   As the strikes hit, Trump wrote on his Truth Social website that "tremendous 
damage has been inflicted upon the Houthi barbarians."

   "Watch how it will get progressively worse -- It's not even a fair fight, 
and never will be," Trump added. "They will be completely annihilated!"

   Meanwhile, Trump again warned Iran not to arm the Houthis, claiming without 
offering evidence that Tehran "has lessened its intensity on Military Equipment 
and General Support to the Houthis."

   "Iran must stop the sending of these Supplies IMMEDIATELY," he wrote.

   Iran has long armed the Houthis, who are members of Islam's minority Shiite 
Zaydi sect that ruled Yemen for 1,000 years until 1962. Tehran routinely denies 
arming the rebels, despite physical evidence, numerous seizures and experts 
tying the weapons to Iran. That's likely because Tehran wants to avoid 
sanctions for violating a United Nations arms embargo on the Houthis.

   Iran's state-run IRNA news agency acknowledged Trump's comments and cited 
remarks previously made by Iran's ambassador to the United Nations, Amir Saeed 
Iravani, that said Trump made "baseless accusations."

   The Houthi rebels attacked over 100 merchant vessels with missiles and 
drones, sinking two vessels and killing four sailors, from November 2023 until 
January this year when a ceasefire began in Gaza. The campaign also greatly 
raised the Houthis' profile in the wider Arab world and tamped down on public 
criticism against their human rights abuses and crackdowns on dissent and aid 
workers.

   Meanwhile Thursday, the Houthi-controlled SABA news agency acknowledged the 
rebels had been taking food aid out of a World Food Program warehouse without 
permission. It said it took about 20% of the aid on hand out.

   The U.N. in February suspended its operations in Saada over security 
concerns following the detentions of dozens of U.N. workers and others. One WFP 
staffer died while imprisoned by the Houthis.