Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban receives a medal from pro-Russia Bosnian Serb president Dodik

BANJA LUKA, Bosnia-Herzegovina (AP) — Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban on Friday received a medal from the pro-Russian leader of Bosnia's Serbs, who has been sanctioned by the U.S. and Britain because of his separatist policies.

Orban visited the Bosnian Serb administrative headquarters of Banja Luka as part of a visit to Bosnia. He first traveled to Bosnia's capital Sarajevo on Thursday.

Bosnian Serbs are in charge of around half of Bosnia while the country's Bosniaks, who are mostly Muslim, and ethnic Croats run the other half. Bosnian Serb President Milorad Dodik, a supporter of Russia's President Vladimir Putin, has sought to split from the rest of Bosnia.

There have been fears in the West that Russia could try to stir instability in Bosnia to avert some of the attention from the war in Ukraine. Bosnia remains ethnically tense and politically fragile years after a 1992-95 ethnic war.

European Union leaders last month agreed to open talks with Bosnia on joining the bloc in an effort to bring the country into its fold. Bosnia’s three-member multi-ethnic presidency said after a meeting with Orban on Thursday that it will continue on the EU path and thanked Hungary for its support.

Orban, who has often clashed with the EU because over his hard-line policies, said the Serbs are “essential” in Europe and the EU has failed to recognize that fact. Orban is also an ally of Serbia's populist leader Aleksandar Vucic.

“I think Serbia is not treated fairly (by the EU). Serbia doesn’t get the recognition it deserves,” said Orban. “Somehow, Europe does not understand that Serbs are essential in Europe. There is no security in Europe without Serbs. Without Serbs inside — there will be no healthy European Union.”

Dodik awarded Orban with the medal in January during a Bosnian Serb statehood holiday that has been declared unconstitutional by Bosnia's top court, but Orban was not present to receive it at the time. Dodik has dismissed criticism of the Jan. 9 celebrations, which mark the date in 1992 when Serbs in Bosnia first declared independence, triggering a war.

Bosnia's current two entities were formed in a U.S.-brokered peace agreement that ended the 1990s' war that killed more than 100,000 people and left millions displaced. Bosnia's Serbs have insisted on gaining as much autonomy as possible ever since.

Orban was accompanied by Hungarian businessmen during his Bosnia visit. Dodik awarded Putin with the same medal as Dodik.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, left, shakes hands with the President of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina Borjana Kristo prior to their meeting in Sarajevo, Bosnia, Thursday, April 4, 2024. (AP Photo)

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, left, shakes hands with the President of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina Borjana Kristo prior to their meeting in Sarajevo, Bosnia, Thursday, April 4, 2024. (AP Photo)

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, left, poses for a photo with the President of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina Borjana Kristo prior to their meeting in Sarajevo, Bosnia, Thursday, April 4, 2024. (AP Photo)

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban smiles during the meeting with the President of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina Borjana Kristo in Sarajevo, Bosnia, Thursday, April 4, 2024. (AP Photo)

Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik smiles during a meeting with Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban, in Banja Luka, Bosnia, Friday, April 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)

Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban looks on during his meeting with Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik, in Banja Luka, Bosnia, Friday, April 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)

Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik, right, talks to Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban, during their meeting in Banja Luka, Bosnia, Friday, April 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)

Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik, right, welcomes Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban, in Banja Luka, Bosnia, Friday, April 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)

Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik, right, welcomes Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban, in Banja Luka, Bosnia, Friday, April 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)

Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik, right, welcomes Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban, in Banja Luka, Bosnia, Friday, April 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)

In this photograph made available by the Republika Srpska Presidential Press Service, Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban, left, receives the Order of Republika Srpska from Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik during his visit in Banja Luka, Bosnia, Friday, April 5, 2024. Orban is on a two-day visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina. (Republika Srpska Presidential Press Service via AP)

In this photograph made available by the Republika Srpska Presidential Press Service, Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban, left, receives the Order of Republika Srpska from Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik during his visit in Banja Luka, Bosnia, Friday, April 5, 2024. Orban is on a two-day visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina. (Republika Srpska Presidential Press Service via AP)

In this photograph made available by the Republika Srpska Presidential Press Service, Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban, left, receives the Order of Republika Srpska from Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik during his visit in Banja Luka, Bosnia, Friday, April 5, 2024. Orban is on a two-day visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina. (Republika Srpska Presidential Press Service via AP)

In this photograph made available by the Republika Srpska Presidential Press Service, Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban, left, receives the Order of Republika Srpska from Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik during his visit in Banja Luka, Bosnia, Friday, April 5, 2024. Orban is on a two-day visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina. (Republika Srpska Presidential Press Service via AP)

In this photograph made available by the Republika Srpska Presidential Press Service, Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban, left, receives the Order of Republika Srpska from Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik during his visit in Banja Luka, Bosnia, Friday, April 5, 2024. Orban is on a two-day visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina. (Republika Srpska Presidential Press Service via AP)

In this photograph made available by the Republika Srpska Presidential Press Service, Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban speaks after receiving the Order of Republika Srpska from Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik during his visit to Banja Luka, Bosnia, Friday, April 5, 2024. Orban is on a two-day visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina. (Republika Srpska Presidential Press Service via AP)

In this photograph made available by the Republika Srpska Presidential Press Service, Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban speaks after receiving the Order of Republika Srpska from Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik during his visit to Banja Luka, Bosnia, Friday, April 5, 2024. Orban is on a two-day visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina. (Republika Srpska Presidential Press Service via AP)

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — President Donald Trump said he ordered a series of airstrikes on Yemen's capital, Sanaa, on Saturday, promising to use “overwhelming lethal force” until Iranian-backed Houthi rebels cease their attacks on shipping along a vital maritime corridor. The Houthis said nine civilians were killed.

“Our brave Warfighters are right now carrying out aerial attacks on the terrorists’ bases, leaders, and missile defenses to protect American shipping, air, and naval assets, and to restore Navigational Freedom,” Trump said in a social media post. “No terrorist force will stop American commercial and naval vessels from freely sailing the Waterways of the World.”

He also warned Iran to stop supporting the rebel group, promising to hold the country “fully accountable” for the actions of its proxy. It comes two weeks after the U.S leader sent a letter to Iranian leaders offering a path to restarting bilateral talks between the countries on Iran’s advancing nuclear weapons program that Trump has said he will not allow to become operational.

The Houthis reported a series of explosions in their territory Saturday evening. Images circulating online showed plumes of black smoke over the area of the Sanaa airport complex, which includes a sprawling military facility.

At least nine people were killed, said Anees al-Asbahi, spokesman for the Houthi-run health ministry. In a statement on social media, he said another nine were wounded.

Nasruddin Amer, deputy head of the Houthi media office, said the airstrikes won’t deter them and they would retaliate against the U.S. “Sanaa will remain Gaza’s shield and support and will not abandon it no matter the challenges,” he added on social media.

The airstrikes come a few days after the Houthis said they would resume attacks on Israeli vessels sailing in waters off Yemen in response to Israel’s blockade on Gaza. There have been no Houthi attacks reported since then.

Earlier this month, Israel halted all aid coming into Gaza and warned of “additional consequences” for Hamas if their fragile ceasefire in the war isn’t extended as negotiations continue over starting a second phase.

The Houthis had described their warning as taking hold in the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and the Arabian Sea.

The Houthis targeted over 100 merchant vessels with missiles and drones, sinking two vessels and killing four sailors, during their campaign targeting military and civilian ships between the start of the war between Israel and Hamas in late 2023 and January of this year, when a tenuous ceasefire in Gaza took effect.

The attacks raised the Houthis’ profile as they faced economic problems and launched a crackdown targeting dissent and aid workers at home amid Yemen’s decade-long stalemated war that’s torn apart the Arab world’s poorest nation.

The Houthi media office said the U.S. strikes hit “a residential neighborhood” in Sanaa’s northern district of Shouab. Sanaa residents said at least four airstrikes rocked the Eastern Geraf neighborhood in Shouab district, terrifying women and children in the area.

“The explosions were very strong,” said Abdallah al-Alffi. “It was like an earthquake.”

The United States, Israel and Britain have previously hit Houthi-held areas in Yemen. Israel’s military declined to comment.

Saturday's operation against the Houthis was conducted solely by the U.S., according to a U.S. official. It was the first strike on the Yemen-based Houthis under the second Trump administration, and it comes after a period of relative quiet in the region.

Such broad-based and pre-planned missile strikes against the Houthis were done multiple times by the Biden administration in response to frequent attacks by the Houthis against commercial and military vessels in the region.

The USS Harry S. Truman carrier strike group, which includes the carrier, three Navy destroyers and one cruiser, are in the Red Sea and were part of the mission. The USS Georgia cruise missile submarine has also been operating in the region.

Trump announced the strikes as he spent the day at his Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida.

“These relentless assaults have cost the U.S. and World Economy many BILLIONS of Dollars while, at the same time, putting innocent lives at risk,” Trump said.

Baldor reported from Washington and Magdy reported from Cairo. AP White House Correspondent Zeke Miller contributed from Washington.

President Donald Trump addresses a joint session of Congress at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, March 4, 2025. (Win McNamee/Pool Photo via AP)

Smoke rises from a location reportedly struck by U.S. airstrikes in Sanaa, Yemen, Saturday, March 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Osamah Abdulrahman