US strikes ‘took out’ multiple Houthi leaders: National security adviser Mike Waltz

The United States airstrikes that bombarded Yemen over the weekend targeted and “took out” multiple leaders of the Iranian-backed Houthis, White House national security adviser Mike Waltz said Sunday.

Speaking on ABC’s “This Week,” Waltz argued to co-anchor Martha Raddatz that these latest strikes differed from the countless strikes former President Joe Biden’s administration launched against the rebel group, explaining that President Donald Trump’s administration has taken the extra step of designating the Houthis a foreign terrorist organization.

“These were not kind of pinprick, back and forth — what ultimately proved to be feckless attacks,” Waltz said. “This was an overwhelming response that actually targeted multiple Houthi leaders and took them out. And the difference here is, one, going after the Houthi leadership, and two, holding Iran responsible.”

Waltz accused Iran of helping the Houthis attack U.S. warships and global commerce. Some 70% of global commerce is now diverting around South Africa to avoid the Houthis, resulting in higher shipping costs and supply chain issues, Waltz said.

“President Trump has found it unacceptable. What we inherited was — was a terrible situation, and this is one of what will be a sustained effort to right that wrong and to reopen global commerce,” Waltz said.

A source told ABC News on March 15 that the strikes are not expected to be a single-day event. On social media, Trump warned the Houthis that if their attacks do not stop, “HELL WILL RAIN DOWN UPON YOU LIKE NOTHING YOU HAVE EVER SEEN BEFORE!”

Trump also issued a warning to Iran, calling on the Islamic Republic to stop supporting the Houthis, and adding: “Do NOT threaten the American People, their President… or Worldwide shipping lanes. If you do, BEWARE, because America will hold you fully accountable and, we won’t be nice about it!”

The Houthis retaliated against U.S. Navy ships on Sunday, but the drones and missile fired at them did not come close to striking the ships, according to a U.S. official.

The official also said that it is safe to say that the Houthis fired the weapons for more than 12 hours.

Saying that the group was committed to “responding to escalation by escalation,” the Yemeni Armed Forces released a statement on Monday, local time, saying that it had launched a second offensive, lasting several hours.

It said that they had once again attacked the USS Harry S….