On Saturday (local time), U.S. President Donald Trump announced "decisive and powerful" military action against Yemen's Houthi rebels, accusing them of piracy, violence, and terrorism targeting Americans.

The strikes come nearly two weeks after the U.S. redesignated the Houthis as a foreign terrorist organization.

"Today, I have ordered the United States military to launch decisive and powerful action against the Houthi terrorists in Yemen. They have waged an unrelenting campaign of piracy, violence, and terrorism against American and other ships, aircraft, and drones," Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.

He vowed to use "overwhelming lethal force" against the Houthis, accusing them of disrupting global trade by obstructing transportation through the Suez Canal, the Red Sea, and the Gulf of Aden.

"The Houthi attacks on American vessels will not be tolerated. We will use overwhelming lethal force until we achieve our objective. The Houthis have choked off shipping in one of the world’s most critical waterways, grinding vast swaths of global commerce to a halt and attacking the fundamental principle of freedom of navigation," Trump stated.

He criticized former President Joe Biden’s response to the Houthis as "pathetically weak," arguing that their unrestrained attacks on U.S. military and commercial vessels had cost the American and global economy "billions of dollars."

"It has been over a year since a U.S.-flagged commercial ship safely sailed through the Suez Canal, the Red Sea, or the Gulf of Aden. The last American warship to pass through the Red Sea, four months ago, was attacked by the Houthis more than a dozen times. Funded by Iran, these Houthi militants have fired missiles at U.S. aircraft and targeted our troops and allies. These relentless assaults have cost billions and put innocent lives at risk," Trump said.

He confirmed that U.S. forces were conducting aerial strikes on Houthi bases, leaders, and missile defenses to protect American shipping and military assets and restore navigational freedom.

"No terrorist force will stop American commercial and naval vessels from freely sailing the world’s waterways," Trump asserted.

Trump also issued a direct warning to Iran, demanding an immediate halt to its support for the Houthis and threatening severe consequences if it continues.

"To Iran: Support for the Houthi terrorists must end IMMEDIATELY! Do NOT threaten the American people, their President—who has received one of the largest mandates in Presidential history—or global shipping lanes," he warned.

"If you do, BEWARE, because America will hold you fully accountable, and we won’t be nice about it!" he added.