Houthi 'barbarians' will be annihilated, Trump says

Warning comes as the US military increases attacks on Iran-backed rebels in Yemen

US President Donald Trump has warned Iran against continuing its support for the Yemeni group. Reuters

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday described Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels as “barbarians” and said they would be “completely annihilated” by an intensified American military campaign against them.

Mr Trump also warned Iran against continuing its aid for the group.

The US military began launching strikes against the rebels on Saturday. Washington has pledged to use overwhelming force until the rebels stop firing on shipping routes in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.

“Iran must stop the sending of these supplies immediately. Let the Houthis fight it out themselves. Either way they lose, but this way they lose quickly,” Mr Trump posted on his Truth Social platform. “Tremendous damage has been inflicted upon the Houthi barbarians, and watch how it will get progressively worse – It’s not even a fair fight, and never will be. They will be completely annihilated.”

Mr Trump made reference to reports that Iran “has lessened its intensity on military equipment and general support” for the Houthis, although he added: “They are still sending large levels of supplies.”

This month, Mr Trump wrote a letter to Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei offering to hold talks on Tehran's nuclear programme. Axios reported on Wednesday that the letter included a two-month deadline to reach a nuclear deal

The Houthis, part of Iran's “axis of resistance” against the US and Israel, have been launching attacks on Red Sea shipping since the start of the Gaza war, claiming solidarity with Palestinians.

The Houthis on Wednesday claimed to have carried out an attack on American warships in the Red Sea. It was the fourth strike they took responsibility for in three days.

On Wednesday, the US military's Central Command released video of its warplanes shooting down Houthi attack drones.