Warning: This article contains graphic images which some readers may find distressing
Donald Trump has released drone footage of a recent airstrike by the US Central Command on Western Yemen targeting 'Houthis rebels'.
On March 15, Trump revealed he'd ordered 'decisive and powerful' air strikes from the US military on the Iranian-backed group, accusing the Houthis of having 'waged an unrelenting campaign of piracy, violence, and terrorism against American, and other, ships, aircraft, and drones' because of attacks on Red Sea shipping.
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He warned the Houthis: "YOUR TIME IS UP, AND YOUR ATTACKS MUST STOP, STARTING TODAY. IF THEY DON’T, HELL WILL RAIN DOWN UPON YOU LIKE NOTHING YOU HAVE EVER SEEN BEFORE!
And the US President has very much put his words into action, since sharing footage of an attack on 'the Houthis' to Truth Social.
Trump shared black and white footage which appears to be from a drone looking down on an area of land and group of people standing in a circle.
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The video shows a target hovering over the group and then a huge explosion going off, plumes of smoke billowing into the air, it hard to see anyone on the ground after.
He captioned the video: "These Houthis gathered for instructions on an attack. Oops, there will be no attack by these Houthis!
"They will never sink our ships again!"
The White House also reshared the footage on its Twitter page.
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The strikes have claimed the lives of at least 60 people according to a report by Al Jazeera on April 2.
A spokesperson for Iran's foreign ministry, Esmaeil Baqaei, has slammed the US for using such force against the Yemen people.
In a statement he branded Trump's actions as a 'gross violation of the principles of the UN Charter' and said the country 'strongly condemned the brutal air strikes by the US'.
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Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also condemned the attack, stating the Trump administration had 'no authority' to dictate its foreign policy.
However, Trump has also warned those who 'support' the Houthis too.
In a post to Truth Social he wrote: "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 Worldwide shipping lanes.
"If you do, BEWARE, because America will hold you fully accountable and, we won’t be nice about it!"
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The rebels have spoken out against Trump's 'escalation', stating on national television they were readying to attack the US in response.
In a statement on their Al-Masirah TV station - founded by the Houthi movement - they said: "Our Yemeni armed forces are fully prepared to confront escalation with escalation."
Topics: Donald Trump, World News, Politics, Social Media
Poppy Bilderbeck