The White House said on Monday that a top Houthi missile expert was killed in US strikes, as President Donald Trump warned that that military action against the Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen would continue until the group no longer threatens maritime security.
"The choice for the Houthis is clear: Stop shooting at US ships, and we will stop shooting at you. Otherwise, we have only just begun, and the real pain is yet to come, for both the Houthis and their sponsors in Iran," Trump said in a Truth Social post.
Following Trump’s remarks, the United States Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed ongoing attacks on Houthi positions in Yemen on Tuesday, releasing video footage of the strikes.
The White House said that recent US strikes in Yemen have resulted in the death of a top Houthi missile expert. However, the US military has not confirmed the death, and the identity of the Houthi commander remains unclear.
National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, in comments to CBS News after the March 15 strikes, said that the first wave of attacks killed “their head missileer.”
Reuters reported that unnamed US officials said they were unaware of any independent confirmation from the US military regarding the death of the individual in question.
While on March 15, CENTOM said in a press release that its forces initiated an operation consisting of precision strikes against Iran-backed Houthi targets across Yemen, it did not provide further details on the targets.
Trump also referred to the death of Houthi leaders in his post on Truth Social, saying "The Iran-backed Houthi Terrorists have been decimated by the relentless strikes over the past two weeks. Many of their fighters and leaders are no longer with us."
US Air Force Lieutenant General Alexus Grynkewich did not mention a missileer in his comments about US strikes on Houthi positions on March 17 but confirmed that an aerial drone facility was targeted, along with several key leaders, the Reuters report added.
The strikes, the largest US military operation in the Middle East since Trump took office, aim to pressure the Iran-backed Houthis to end their attacks on shipping in the Red Sea, including US warships.
The group has carried out over 100 attacks on shipping since late 2023, citing solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. What began as a campaign against Israeli-backed ships has led to a total blockade on global shipping with multiple international seamen killed in attacks.
Mowlavi Abdolhamid Ismaeelzahi, said, "In my opinion, direct negotiation is more effective," after leading the Eid al-Fitr prayers in Zahedan, marking the end of the fasting month of Ramadan.
"Intermediaries cannot powerfully defend the country's interests and respond to the other side's doubts. Rather, the person with the pain and the problem can speak better and achieve a better result."
The Sunni leader, who has become famed for his fearless opposition to the government, made the comments on Monday following threats from US President Donald Trump to bomb Iran if it does not agree to a new nuclear deal.
He emphasized the importance of adapting policies to foster progress and better international relations, saying, "The success of all developed and developing countries and nations is the result of creating change, transformation, and innovation in laws and policies."
Abdolhamid's call for direct dialogue stands in contrast to the official stance of Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who voiced his rejection of direct negotiations with the United States earlier in the day, although he indicated that indirect talks could continue.
Khamenei's position was underscored during his televised speech, where he also warned the US of a "strong blow" if it acted on Trump's bombing threat.
As Khamenei delivered his remarks, crowds present chanted, "Death to America."
Echoing Khamenei's stance, Friday prayer leaders across Iran, who serve as his representatives, have also condemned Trump's threats.
Mohammad Mehdi Hosseini Hamedani, Khamenei's representative and the Friday prayers leader of Karaj, said on Monday, "Our response to the heavy bombing threat is the repetition of the slogan 'Death to America.'"
President Masoud Pezeshkian has also rejected direct talks with Washington but left the door open for indirect negotiations.
“The response by the Supreme Leader to Trump’s letter was delivered to the US contact in Oman,” Pezeshkian said on Sunday.
“In that response, direct negotiations have been rejected, but regarding indirect talks, Iran has always been involved in such discussions, and the Supreme Leader has emphasized that indirect talks can still continue.”
Meanwhile, economic and political figures within Iran have warned that failure to engage with the US could deepen the country’s crisis.
Khamenei’s senior adviser Ali Larijani and leading economists in Tehran have urged policymakers to seek a resolution with Washington to ease sanctions that have crippled Iran’s economy.
Earlier this year, Trump reinstated his “maximum pressure” strategy against Iran. Trump's maximum pressure approach in his first term, which started in 2018, pummeled Iran's economy, causing a dramatic decline in oil exports and skyrocketing inflation.
