Trump Announces Military Action Against US Enemy: 'We Will Use Overwhelming Lethal Force Until We Have Achieved Our Objective'
President Donald Trump has once again demonstrated America’s military strength in the Middle East, launching an assault on Yemen’s Houthi rebels and eliminating an Islamic State leader in Iraq.
During Saturday’s strike in Yemen, forces from the USS Harry S. Truman carrier strike group participated in the mission, according to the Associated Press, which reported that the U.S. acted alone in carrying out the attack.
“Today, I have ordered the United States Military to launch decisive and powerful Military action against the Houthi terrorists in Yemen,” Trump declared on Truth Social.
“They have waged an unrelenting campaign of piracy, violence, and terrorism against American, and other, ships, aircraft, and drones,” he added.
Trump further emphasized that U.S. forces were actively engaged in battle.
“Our brave Warfighters are right now carrying out aerial attacks on the terrorists’ bases, leaders, and missile defenses to protect American shipping, air, and naval assets, and to restore Navigational Freedom. No terrorist force will stop American commercial and naval vessels from freely sailing the Waterways of the World,” Trump stated.
He also blamed his predecessor for failing to address the issue effectively.
“Joe Biden’s response was pathetically weak, so the unrestrained Houthis just kept going. It has been over a year since a U.S. flagged commercial ship safely sailed through the Suez Canal, the Red Sea, or the Gulf of Aden. The last American Warship to go through the Red Sea, four months ago, was attacked by the Houthis over a dozen times,” Trump wrote.
Trump pointed to Iran’s support for the Houthis as a key factor behind the group’s continued aggression.
“Funded by Iran, the Houthi thugs have fired missiles at U.S. aircraft, and targeted our Troops and Allies. These relentless assaults have cost the U.S. and World Economy many BILLIONS of Dollars while, at the same time, putting innocent lives at risk,” he wrote.
Asserting that the U.S. would take decisive measures, Trump vowed retaliation.
“The Houthi attack on American vessels will not be tolerated. We will use overwhelming lethal force until we have achieved our objective,” he stated.
Trump then issued direct warnings to both the Houthis and Iran.
“To all Houthi terrorists, YOUR TIME IS UP, AND YOUR ATTACKS MUST STOP, STARTING TODAY. IF THEY DON’T, HELL WILL RAIN DOWN UPON YOU LIKE NOTHING YOU HAVE EVER SEEN BEFORE!” Trump warned.
“To Iran: Support for the Houthi terrorists must end IMMEDIATELY! Do NOT threaten the American People, their President, who has received one of the largest mandates in Presidential History, or Worldwide shipping lanes. If you do, BEWARE, because America will hold you fully accountable and, we won’t be nice about it!” he added.
On Friday, Trump also announced a military strike that resulted in the death of Abdallah Maki Mosleh al-Rifai, a senior Islamic State leader in Iraq and Syria. According to the Associated Press, the attack was carried out in coordination with Iraqi forces.
“Today the fugitive leader of ISIS in Iraq was killed. He was relentlessly hunted down by our intrepid warfighters,” Trump posted on Truth Social.
“His miserable life was terminated, along with another member of ISIS, in coordination with the Iraqi Government and the Kurdish Regional Government. PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH!” Trump declared.
The U.S. Central Command also confirmed the strike in a post on X.
“On March 13, U.S. Central Command forces, in cooperation with Iraqi Intelligence and Security Forces, conducted a precision airstrike in Al Anbar Province, Iraq, that killed the Global ISIS #2 leader, Chief of Global Operations and the Delegated Committee Emir – Abdallah Makki Muslih al-Rifai, alias ‘Abu Khadijah’, and one other ISIS operative,” the statement read.
“As the Emir of ISIS’ most senior decision-making body, Abu Khadijah maintained responsibility for operations, logistics, and planning conducted by ISIS globally, and directs a significant portion of finance for the group’s global organization,” CENTCOM stated.
General Michael Erik Kurilla, commander of U.S. Central Command, reinforced the military’s commitment to eliminating threats.
“Abu Khadijah was one of the most important ISIS members in the entire global ISIS organization. We will continue to kill terrorists and dismantle their organizations that threaten our homeland and U.S., allied and partner personnel in the region and beyond,” he asserted.