MARCH 26, 2025 – President Donald Trump delivered a characteristically brash assessment of the ongoing U.S. military campaign against Yemen’s Houthi rebels, claiming their desire for peace stems from the severe battering they’ve endured. Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office on March 26, 2025, Trump declared, “The Houthis are looking to do something. They want to know, ‘How do we stop? How do we stop? How can we have peace?’ The Houthis want peace because they’re getting the hell knocked out of them.” His remarks, made with his usual unfiltered flair, underscored a narrative of dominance, given the success the U.S. has been achieving with targeted airstrikes.
Trump’s comments came amid a U.S.-led offensive that began on March 15, targeting the Iran-backed Houthis to curb their attacks on Red Sea shipping lanes. He tied their supposed shift in stance to the effectiveness of American airstrikes, boasting, “The attacks every day, every night… have been very successful beyond our wildest expectations.” The president suggested this pressure has left the Houthis reeling, adding, “They want us to stop so badly… They’ve got to say, ‘No mas.’” He hinted at a prolonged effort, noting that U.S. forces might continue striking Houthi targets “for a long time,” a point he reiterated with confidence but without detailed justification.
The Houthis, who have controlled much of Yemen since ousting the recognized government in 2015, have faced a Saudi-led coalition for a decade, with U.S. support intensifying under Trump’s administration. Their attacks on shipping, which they claim support Palestinians in the Gaza conflict, have disrupted global trade, slashing Suez Canal traffic to 20% of normal levels, according to Trump. “They were knocking ships out of the ocean,” he said, emphasizing the economic toll of rerouting vessels around Africa.
While Trump painted a picture of a battered foe, the situation remains murky. Houthi media reported fresh U.S. strikes on March 26, hitting Sanaa and other rebel-held areas, with their health ministry claiming civilian casualties—53 dead and nearly 100 wounded since the campaign’s start. The rebels, far from signaling surrender, have vowed retaliation, targeting U.S. and Israeli assets. Trump dismissed their resilience, calling them “horrible to the world” and asserting, “They have been hit harder than they have ever been.” Whether this bravado reflects reality or rhetoric, the president’s stance is clear: the Houthis are on the ropes, and he’s not letting up.
Keywords: Trump, Houthis, Yemen, U.S. airstrikes, peace, Iran-backed rebels, Red Sea, Sanaa, military campaign, global trade
