Trump threatens Houthi rebels that they'll be 'completely annihilated' as airstrikes pound Yemen

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — U.S. President Donald Trump threatened Yemen's Houthi rebels on Wednesday that they'll be “completely annihilated” as American airstrikes pounded locations under their control, while further pressuring the group's main benefactor Iran.

Strikes hit Sanaa, Yemen's rebel-held capital, as well as their stronghold of Saada in the country's northwest on Wednesday night, the Houthi's al-Maisrah satellite news channel reported. It aired footage showing firefighters battling a blaze in Sanaa and damaged at what it described as a sheep farm in al-Jawf.

It also said strikes happened overnight Tuesday, though the U.S. military has not offered a breakdown of places targeted since the airstrikes campaign began. The first strikes this weekend killed at least 53 people, including children, and wounded others.

As the strikes hit, Trump wrote on his Truth Social website that “tremendous damage has been inflicted upon the Houthi barbarians.”

“Watch how it will get progressively worse — It’s not even a fair fight, and never will be,” Trump added. “They will be completely annihilated!”

Meanwhile, Trump again warned Iran not to arm the Houthis, claiming without offering evidence that Tehran “has lessened its intensity on Military Equipment and General Support to the Houthis.”

“Iran must stop the sending of these Supplies IMMEDIATELY,” he wrote.

Iran has long armed the Houthis, who are members of Islam’s minority Shiite Zaydi sect that ruled Yemen for 1,000 years until 1962. Tehran routinely denies arming the rebels, despite physical evidence, numerous seizures and experts tying the weapons to Iran. That’s likely because Tehran wants to avoid sanctions for violating a United Nations arms embargo on the Houthis.

Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency acknowledged Trump’s comments and cited remarks previously made by Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations, Amir Saeed Iravani, that said Trump made “baseless accusations.”

The Houthi rebels attacked over 100 merchant vessels with missiles and drones, sinking two vessels and killing four sailors, from November 2023 until January this year when a ceasefire began in Gaza. The campaign also greatly raised the Houthis’ profile in the wider Arab world and tamped down on public criticism against their human rights abuses and crackdowns on dissent and aid workers.

Meanwhile Thursday, the Houthi-controlled SABA news agency acknowledged the rebels had been taking food aid out of a World Food Program warehouse without permission. It said it took about 20% of the aid on hand out.

The U.N. in February suspended its operations in Saada over security concerns following the detentions of dozens of U.N. workers and others. One WFP staffer died while imprisoned by the Houthis.

Locals inspect the site reportedly struck by U.S. airstrikes overnight in Sanaa, Yemen, Thursday, March 20, 2025. (AP Photo)

Locals inspect the site reportedly struck by U.S. airstrikes overnight in Sanaa, Yemen, Thursday, March 20, 2025. (AP Photo)

Locals inspect the site reportedly struck by U.S. airstrikes overnight in Sanaa, Yemen, Thursday, March 20, 2025. (AP Photo)

Locals inspect the site reportedly struck by U.S. airstrikes overnight in Sanaa, Yemen, Thursday, March 20, 2025. (AP Photo)

Locals inspect the site reportedly struck by U.S. airstrikes overnight in Sanaa, Yemen, Thursday, March 20, 2025. (AP Photo)

Locals inspect the site reportedly struck by U.S. airstrikes overnight in Sanaa, Yemen, Thursday, March 20, 2025. (AP Photo)

Yemenis pass under a street billboard displaying a picture of Abdul Malik al-Houthi, the leader of the Houthi movement, in Sanaa, Yemen, Tuesday, March 18, 2025. Arabic reads, "death to America, death to Israel". (AP Photo/Osamah Abdulrahman)

Yemenis stand under a street billboard displaying a picture of Abdul Malik al-Houthi, the leader of the Houthi movement, in Sanaa, Yemen, Tuesday, March 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Osamah Abdulrahman)

Smoke rises from a location reportedly struck by U.S. airstrikes in Sanaa, Yemen, Wednesday, March 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Osamah Abdulrahman)

Smoke rises from a location reportedly struck by U.S. airstrikes in Sanaa, Yemen, Wednesday, March 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Osamah Abdulrahman)

TROY, Mich. (AP) — A hospital employee shot a coworker in a parking garage Thursday in suburban Detroit, setting off a morning scramble at a major health care campus before the suspect was arrested miles away a few hours later.

The gunman never entered Corewell Health Beaumont Troy Hospital. But it was treated as an active shooter situation, which led to a lockdown and other security steps at the hospital as well as at schools in Troy.

“We're lucky in this case it wasn’t an actual active shooter. It was a targeted incident,” Troy police Chief Josh Jones told reporters.

A hospital employee confronted another employee in the parking garage and fired five shots around 7 a.m. The 25-year-old victim was hit in the arm and subsequently treated inside the hospital, Jones said.

The chief didn't offer any details about a motive, though he said, “There was some kind of falling out recently.”

Residents received an emergency message on their phones, alerting them about an active shooter and advising them to avoid the area and to shelter in place. Police cars with lights flashing blocked major streets. Troy is about 22 miles (35 kilometers) north of Detroit.

The suspect was arrested about 2 1/2 hours later in another suburb.

“We are incredibly thankful for the quick actions of all our team members and law enforcement,” Corewell Health said.

Brian Pagent, a cardiac patient, said he got off a treadmill and went into a closet to hide.

“It was scary at the time. The workers did a great job," Pagent told radio station WWJ.

Corewell Health Beaumont Troy Hospital is shown in Troy, Mich., Thursday, March 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Law enforcement arrive at Corewell Health Beaumont Troy Hospital in Troy, Mich., Thursday, March 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Law enforcement arrive at Corewell Health Beaumont Troy Hospital in Troy, Mich., Thursday, March 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

In this image taken from video provided by WXYZ-TV, law enforcement respond to a shooting at Corewell Health Beaumont Troy Hospital on Thursday, March 20, 2025, in Troy, Mich. (WXYZ-TV via AP)

Police respond to the scene of a shooting at Corewell Health Beaumont Troy Hospital, Thursday, March 20, 2025 in Troy, Mich. (WXYZ-TV via AP)