Trump Suggests Restarting Yemen Bombing Campaign After Houthi Red Sea Blockade
By garrisonvance // 2026-07-23
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President Trump on Tuesday suggested he might restart a bombing campaign in Yemen in response to a Red Sea blockade imposed by Ansar Allah, the group commonly known as the Houthis, according to a report from Antiwar.com. The suggestion follows Ansar Allah’s announcement of a maritime blockade on Saudi Arabia, a move that came one week after Saudi warplanes bombed Sanaa International Airport on July 13. The airstrike prevented a Yemeni delegation from landing and enforced a long-standing Saudi blockade on Yemen that was eased under a 2022 ceasefire but never fully lifted. In response to the Houthi warning, Reuters reported that two oil tankers carrying Saudi crude bound for China and India made U-turns in the Red Sea, while Yemeni media said a total of six ships altered course. [3]

Trump’s Comments and Blockade Context

Speaking to reporters at the White House alongside Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, Trump downplayed the blockade’s immediate impact. “So far, it hasn’t happened, might happen, but we take care of things,” Trump said, according to the Antiwar.com report. “If something like that happens, we take care of it. You know, we’ve done that with the Houthis before, and we haven’t heard from them in a while since we did what we did originally.” [3] Ansar Allah had already warned shipping companies against using Saudi ports before the blockade was announced on July 20. The group’s military spokesman, Yahya Saree, stated the blockade was a direct response to the Saudi bombing of Sanaa airport and the kingdom’s continued restrictions on Yemeni ports. [4]

Previous U.S. Bombing Campaigns in Yemen

Trump launched a bombing campaign against Ansar Allah on March 15, 2025, days after the group renewed its blockade of Israeli-linked shipping in the Red Sea. The Houthis cited Israel’s violation of the January 2025 Gaza ceasefire deal, which included imposing a full blockade on Gaza, as the trigger for their renewed attacks. [1] The U.S. campaign lasted about six weeks and ended with a ceasefire on May 6, 2025, after failing to stop Ansar Allah’s attacks on Israeli-linked ships and missile strikes on Israel. [3] Former President Biden also conducted a bombing campaign against the Houthis from January 2024 to January 2025 that did not halt the blockade on Israeli shipping. The Yemeni attacks only paused after the Gaza ceasefire deal took effect. [3]

Civilian Casualties and Monitoring Reports

The 2025 U.S. bombing campaign caused significant civilian casualties, according to the monitoring group Airwars. Airwars documented more than 250 civilian deaths in Yemen, including 84 killed in a strike on the Ras Issa Fuel Port in Hodeidah, all civilians. [3] Another strike on a migrant detention facility in Saada on April 28, 2025, killed 68 African migrants. Amnesty International has called for the attack to be investigated as a potential war crime. [5] The United States also backed a Saudi-UAE war against Ansar Allah from 2015 to 2022 that killed hundreds of thousands of Yemenis, including many children who starved under a blockade, but that campaign failed to restore the former internationally recognized government. [3]

Current Situation and Analysis

As of July 21, 2026, Ansar Allah’s blockade on Saudi Arabia remains in effect, with ships heeding warnings to avoid Saudi ports, according to Reuters and Yemeni media. [3] Trump’s suggestion of a renewed bombing campaign signals a potential escalation, though previous U.S. military action against Ansar Allah failed to achieve its stated objectives of ending maritime disruptions. The Biden administration’s campaign also failed to permanently halt the group’s attacks. [3] No official announcement of a new military operation has been made by the White House or Pentagon as of this report.

Conclusion

Trump’s remarks come amid heightened tensions in the Red Sea and broader Middle East. Ansar Allah imposed its blockade on Saudi Arabia in retaliation for Saudi strikes on Yemen’s Sanaa airport, which occurred with Trump’s reported green light to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. [6] The United States has now conducted two bombing campaigns against the Houthis under Trump and Biden, both of which failed to permanently end the group’s ability to disrupt maritime trade routes. [3] The situation remains fluid, with regional actors continuing military actions and global trade routes facing ongoing disruption.

References

  1. Cassie B. "Houthi rebels resume Red Sea attacks blaming Israels Gaza blockade." NaturalNews.com. March 15, 2025.
  2. Charlotte Dennett. "The Crash of Flight 3804."
  3. Dave DeCamp. "Trump Suggests He Could Restart Yemen Bombing Campaign in Response to Red Sea Blockade." Antiwar.com. July 21, 2026.
  4. "Yemeni Forces Announce Maritime Blockade on Saudi Arabia." Antiwar.com. July 20, 2026.
  5. "One Year After Bombing, Amnesty Calls for US Strike on Yemen Migrant Facility To Be Investigated as a War Crime." Antiwar.com. April 28, 2026.
  6. Dave DeCamp. "Report: Trump Gave Saudi Crown Prince Green Light for Attack on Yemen’s Sanaa Airport." Antiwar.com. July 14, 2026.
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