National security adviser Mike Waltz confirmed on Sunday that U.S. airstrikes “took out” multiple Houthi leaders in attacks this weekend.
Asked how the U.S. attacks this weekend differ from strikes under the Biden administration, Waltz said those “back-and-forth” strikes “ultimately proved to be feckless attacks.”
“This was an overwhelming response that actually targeted multiple Houthi leaders and took them out,” Waltz said in an interview on ABC News’s “This Week.”
“And the difference here is, one, going after the Houthi leadership and, two, holding Iran responsible,” he continued.
Waltz stressed the negative consequences that the Houthis have had on global commerce.
“It is Iran that has repeatedly funded, resourced, trained and helped the Houthis target not only U.S. warships, but global commerce, and has helped the Houthis shut down two of the world’s most strategic sea lanes,” Waltz said, noting nearly three-quarters of global shipping “is now diverting around southern Africa, adding to the cost of goods, disrupting global economies, adding to – or shutting off supplies to the United States.”
“President Trump has found it unacceptable. What we inherited was – was a terrible situation. And this is one of what will be a sustained effort to right that wrong and to reopen global commerce,” Waltz added.
Trump on Saturday ordered a series of airstrikes against the Houthis, a militant group backed by Iran, saying the U.S. would use an “overwhelming lethal force” to take out the group.
Trump also warned Iran to stop supporting the rebel group and said he would hold the country “fully accountable” for the proxy group’s actions.
The attacks were carried out by Air Force jets and armed drones that took off from the region. A source told The Hill that it’s the first of a “many days if not weeks” attack.
The attacks come as the Houthis vow to continue attacking shipping vessels in the Red Sea. The group has targeted the ships since the start of the Israel-Hamas war, increasing tensions in the region.
Nasr el-Din Amer, a spokesperson for the Houthis, told NBC News that the group plans to retaliate and said they would not stop until the “blockade on Gaza” is lifted.
“We will respond to the recent escalation with further escalation,” he said.
