In a bold statement on social media, former U.S. President Donald Trump shared a video claiming to show a direct U.S. air strike on Houthi fighters in Yemen. The video, which appears to be drone footage, shows a group of people gathered in an oval formation before a sudden flash and explosion engulf them, followed by a thick cloud of smoke and dust.
“These Houthis gathered for instructions on an attack. Oops, there will be no attack by these Houthis! They will never sink our ships again!” Trump captioned the video.
While the authenticity of the video remains unverified by independent sources, its timing aligns with reports of escalating U.S. air strikes in Houthi-held areas of Yemen. On Wednesday, the Houthis reported six deaths in multiple regions following U.S. military strikes, according to the Associated Press.
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The U.S. has been targeting the Iran-backed Houthi militia in response to its continued attacks on commercial and naval vessels in the Red Sea, a move the Houthis claim is in support of Gaza amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict. Since the onset of U.S. strikes, the Houthis have reported at least 67 fatalities.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt weighed in on the campaign, saying, “Iran is incredibly weakened as a result of these attacks, and we have seen they have taken out Houthi leaders. They’ve taken out critical members who were launching strikes on naval ships and on commercial vessels and this operation will not stop until the freedom of navigation in this region is restored.”
The footage and Trump’s remarks come at a time of heightened tensions across the Middle East, as U.S. military efforts continue to respond to regional threats while projecting strength against Iranian influence.