US labels Yemen's Houthis "pirates" after deadly strikes in Red Sea

The US Department of State has officially labeled Yemen's Houthi movement, Ansar Allah, as "pirates" and a persistent threat to international security, particularly in the Red Sea region.

The State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce expressed strong condemnation of the group's actions. "These are pirates controlling a part of the world that affects all of us, and it will end," Bruce stated, emphasizing the significant impact the Houthis have on global shipping routes and regional stability, Caliber.Az reports citing Russian media.

On the night of March 16, the United States launched a large-scale military operation targeting the Houthi movement in Yemen, aiming to protect its ships in the Red Sea. The US military conducted a series of strikes against Houthi positions within Yemen, resulting in at least 31 fatalities and more than 100 people wounded.

The strikes came in response to the Houthis' continued attacks in the Red Sea. President Donald Trump had previously warned the Houthis of severe retaliation, declaring that if the assaults on maritime vessels did not cease, they would face "a hell like they've never seen before."

Russia has called for an immediate cessation of hostilities and urged both parties to engage in political dialogue rather than escalating military action. The United Nations has also expressed deep concern over the US strikes, urging all sides to halt military operations and seek a peaceful resolution to the ongoing conflict.

The latest US operation follows earlier Houthi attacks on a US aircraft carrier in the Red Sea, heightening tensions in the region and drawing international calls for de-escalation.

By Vafa Guliyeva