President Donald Trump's military campaign against Yemen's Houthi militants enters a critical phase as tensions escalate in the Red Sea region.
According to the New York Post, Trump declared Monday that U.S. forces would persist in their strikes against the Houthi rebels until they cease their attacks on commercial vessels, warning that "the real pain is yet to come."
The military operation, which began on March 15, targets the Iran-backed militant group's capabilities following their threats against Israeli ships during the Gaza war cease-fire. The Houthis responded by claiming successful strikes on U.S. warships in the Red Sea, intensifying the conflict. This ongoing confrontation has significantly disrupted maritime trade along the vital Suez Canal route since 2023.
An unexpected revelation emerged when National Security Adviser Mike Waltz inadvertently added The Atlantic's editor-in-chief, Jeffrey Goldberg, to a Signal group chat discussing military plans.
Vice President JD Vance expressed reservations about the strikes, highlighting the disparity between U.S. and European trade interests through the Suez Canal. The leak exposed internal debates within the administration regarding the strategic value of the operation.
Trump addressed the Signal chat controversy during his communication with the media:
The Iran-backed Houthi Terrorists have been decimated by the relentless strikes over the past two weeks. Many of their Fighters and Leaders are no longer with us. 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. The choice for the Houthis is clear: Stop shooting at U.S. ships, and we will stop shooting at you.
The administration maintains a firm stance on the effectiveness of their military campaign despite the leaked communications.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced the completion of an internal investigation into the Signal leak. Trump dismissed criticism of the incident, defending the operation's success and refusing to remove staff members involved in the communication breach.
The strikes have resulted in significant damage to Houthi infrastructure, with recent attacks targeting facilities in Sana'a, Yemen. Military officials report progressive degradation of the militant group's capabilities to threaten commercial shipping. The operation represents a direct response to the Houthis' increasing aggression in one of the world's most crucial maritime trade routes.
The administration continues to emphasize the strategic importance of protecting international shipping lanes. Despite the controversy surrounding the leaked communications, Trump's team maintains that no classified information was compromised. The president has characterized criticism of the operation as a "witch hunt," focusing instead on the tactical achievements of the military campaign.
Trump's defensive posture during recent media interactions reflects his administration's commitment to the operation. He specifically told NBC News:
I think it's just a witch hunt and the fake news, like you, talk about it all the time, but it's just a witch hunt, and it shouldn't be talked about. We had a tremendously successful strike. We struck very hard and very lethal. And nobody wants to talk about that. All they want to talk about is nonsense. It's fake news.
President Trump initiated military strikes against Yemen's Houthi rebels on March 15, responding to their threats against commercial vessels in the Red Sea. The operation aims to protect international shipping routes and demonstrate U.S. military resolve in the region.
As the campaign continues, the administration faces both domestic scrutiny over leaked communications and international attention regarding its strategy against Iran-backed militants, while maintaining its position that the strikes will persist until the Houthi threat to maritime navigation is eliminated.
