Sanaa, Yemen – The death toll from recent US airstrikes on Yemen has climbed to 53, including five children, according to the Houthi-controlled health ministry.

The strikes, which targeted multiple locations across Yemen on Saturday, were described by Washington as a “decisive and powerful” response to Houthi attacks on shipping in the Red Sea.

Houthi health ministry spokesperson Anis al-Asbahi confirmed the updated casualty count on Monday, stating that in addition to the dead, at least 98 people had been wounded.

The strikes mark a significant escalation in the ongoing confrontation between the US and the Iranian-backed rebel group.

US Defends Strikes, Targets Houthi Leadership

US National Security Advisor Michael Waltz said the strikes specifically targeted key Houthi figures. “We just hit them with overwhelming force and put Iran on notice that enough is enough,” Waltz told Fox News.

While Washington claims some high-ranking Houthi members were killed, the group has yet to confirm any such losses.

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth vowed that the military campaign would continue until the Houthis cease their attacks. “I want to be very clear, this campaign is about freedom of navigation and restoring deterrence,” Hegseth said in an interview.

President Donald Trump reinforced this stance, declaring on social media that US forces would use “overwhelming lethal force” until their objectives were achieved.

Addressing the Houthis directly, Trump warned, “HELL WILL RAIN DOWN UPON YOU LIKE NOTHING YOU HAVE EVER SEEN BEFORE.”

Houthis Vow Retaliation, Red Sea Shipping Remains a Target

In response to the airstrikes, Houthi leader Abdul Malik al-Houthi pledged to intensify attacks on US ships in the Red Sea. The group has justified its actions as part of its support for Palestinians in Gaza, where Israel continues its military operations against Hamas.

The Houthis claim they are targeting vessels linked to Israel, the US, or the UK, although Western officials have refuted many of these assertions.

Since November 2023, the Houthis have launched dozens of attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, leading to the sinking of two ships, the seizure of another, and the deaths of four crew members.

The US has responded with repeated airstrikes, aiming to deter further Houthi operations. On Monday, the Houthis reported fresh US strikes in Al Jaouf and Hudaydah. The Pentagon has yet to comment on these latest allegations.

Meanwhile, the group has claimed responsibility for two attempted attacks on the USS Harry S. Truman, though US officials stated that 11 Houthi drones were intercepted on Sunday without any reaching the aircraft carrier.

International Reactions and Calls for Restraint

The escalating violence has drawn concern from the international community. UN Secretary-General António Guterres urged all parties to exercise “utmost restraint and a cessation of all military activities” in Yemen.

Iran, which supports the Houthis, strongly condemned the US strikes. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi accused Washington of enabling Israeli “genocide and terrorism” in Gaza and called for an end to the “killing of Yemeni people.”

As tensions continue to rise, the conflict threatens to further destabilize the region, with fears that the situation in Yemen could spiral into a broader confrontation involving global powers.