Egypt Daily News – Protests in Yemen against the U.S. strikes that resulted in dozens of casualties, tens of thousands of Yemenis took to the streets of Sanaa on Monday, raising slogans such as “Steadfast with Gaza… We respond to U.S. escalation with escalation.”
Meanwhile, Donald Trump stated on Monday that Iran “will be held responsible” for any attack carried out by the Houthis, who are backed by Tehran.
Tens of thousands of Yemenis gathered protests in Sanaa on Monday in to a call by the Houthi leader to protest against U.S. strikes targeting the Iranian-backed Yemeni group’s strongholds, which resulted in dozens of deaths, according to their health ministry.
The protesters carried banners condemning the attacks, along with the Yemeni and Palestinian flags, as well as the flag of Lebanon’s Hezbollah and images of its former secretary-general, Hassan Nasrallah, who was assassinated by Israel in September. Others held copies of the Quran and weapons, as shown in the live broadcast by the Houthi-affiliated Al-Masirah channel.
The Protests included chants “Death to America, Death to Israel,” demonstrators gathered in Sanaa’s Al-Sabeen Square. Large protests also took place in the Houthi stronghold of Saada, northwest of Sanaa, as well as in the provinces of Hodeidah, Dhamar, Amran, and Hajjah, according to Al-Masirah’s live coverage.
Houthi leader Abdul-Malik al-Houthi, in a televised speech, called on his supporters to protest a “million-man marches” on Monday in Sanaa and across various Yemeni cities.
Houthis Announce Attack on U.S. Aircraft Carrier
On Sunday, the Houthis in Yemen claimed responsibility for attacking a U.S. aircraft carrier in the Red Sea, stating they would also target American cargo ships in response to the strikes—the first under President Donald Trump’s administration. The U.S.
Trump: Iran Will Be Held Responsible
Following the Houthis’ announcement of the attack on the U.S. aircraft carrier, Donald Trump declared on Monday that Iran “will be held responsible” for any Houthi attack.
Posting on his Truth Social platform, Trump wrote: “From now on, every shot fired by the Houthis will be considered a shot fired by Iranian weapons and officials in Iran. Iran will be held accountable and will face terrible consequences.”
On Saturday, Trump warned the Houthis: “Your time is up, and your attacks must stop immediately. If not, hell will rain down on you like never before!”
He also urged Iran to cease its support for the Houthis, who have been attacking Israel-linked ships off the coast of Yemen since the Gaza war began, claiming solidarity with the Palestinians.
UN Calls for De-escalation
Amid rising tensions, the United Nations urged both the U.S. and the Houthis to halt attacks to prevent “further regional escalation” between Washington and the Iran-backed group.
Days earlier, the Houthis had announced their intention to resume attacks on Israeli ships in the Red Sea and extend operations to the Arabian Sea until “crossings are reopened” and humanitarian aid reaches Gaza.
Since the war in Gaza began in October 2023, the Houthis—part of Iran’s so-called “Axis of Resistance”—have launched hundreds of attacks on ships they claim are linked to Israel in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. They briefly paused attacks when a ceasefire took effect on January 19.
U.S. Strikes and Warnings to Iran
On Sunday, U.S. National Security Advisor Michael Waltz stated that American airstrikes carried out on Saturday night targeted Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen, killing “several” Houthi leaders. He also issued a warning to Iran, demanding it stop supporting the Houthis and their attacks on ships in the Red Sea.
Speaking to ABC News, Waltz said: “We won’t just hold the Houthis accountable; we will also hold Iran, their backer, accountable.”
He added: “If that means targeting Iranian ships delivering training and supplies to help the Houthis attack the global economy, then those targets will be on the table too.”
In another interview with Fox News, Waltz warned that the strikes were a “message to Iran that we’ve had enough.”
Pentagon Vows Relentless Campaign
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth vowed on Sunday to launch an “unrelenting missile campaign” until Houthi attacks stop.
Speaking to Fox Business, Hegseth stated: “I want to be crystal clear, this campaign is about securing freedom of navigation and restoring deterrence.” He emphasized that the U.S. has no interest in being drawn into a prolonged Middle Eastern war, adding: “We don’t care about the Yemeni civil war.”
He concluded: “This is about stopping attacks on ships in this crucial waterway and restoring free navigation, which is a vital national interest for the United States.”
