US strikes on Yemen’s Houthi rebels send a warning message to Iran but will prolong civilian suffering, which the group will then exploit, officials told The National on Sunday.
US President Donald Trump ordered strikes on Houthi-held areas in Yemen late on Saturday, promising to use “overwhelming lethal force” until the Iran-backed rebels stop their attacks on ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.
The attacks killed "multiple" Houthi leaders and ensured Iran was "put on notice" to end its support for the rebel group, the White House said on Sunday.
The strikes "actually targeted multiple Houthi leaders and took them out", National Security Adviser Michael Waltz told ABC News. He told Fox News the US "just hit them with overwhelming force and put Iran on notice that enough is enough".
The US is exerting so-called maximum pressure on Iran and its proxies in the region. Mr Trump has increased sanctions on Tehran while trying to convince the regime to return to the negotiating table over its nuclear programme.
“The main message is for Iran, President Trump wants to tell them he can target them next. As he likes to say, ‘negotiation through strength’,” Baraa Shiban, a Yemen expert and associate fellow at the Rusi defence think tank, told The National. “It looks, from the intensity of the strikes, like this operation will continue, which will degrade their [the Houthis] capabilities, similar to what happened with Hezbollah in Lebanon."
The strikes, which killed at least 31 people, came shortly after the Yemeni rebels said they would resume their attacks on Red Sea shipping following Israel’s blockade on Gaza. There have been no reports of Houthis attacking international ships since.
Mr Trump is trying to be "proactive and strike the Houthis, rather than wait until they attack,” Mr Shiban said.
These attacks, which caught the Houthis by surprise, are in stark contrast to previous strikes by the administration of Joe Biden that were expected.
"I was completely surprised to see the level of accuracy of these targets," said Fatima Alasrar, a senior policy analyst at the Washington Centre for Yemeni Studies. "It indicates a real knowledge of sites that the Houthis have hidden deeply within civilian areas, and the fact that the United States can target it with such precision at this very moment just signifies to the Houthis that the US is watching, and that they know exactly what the Houthis are up to."
Ms Alasrar told The National that the strikes were reminiscent of when Israel detonated the pagers of thousands of Hezbollah fighters.
“This message got heard loud and clear, and was really the only response of a strong nation that won't allow proxies to run the region," she said.
A statement by Sanaa’s municipality and local authorities, seen by The National, called on civilians to flee Houthi-held areas and seek safety. “These developments that are targeting the Houthis will have a direct effect to further exacerbate the suffering of the Yemeni people,” it said. “The continuation of these escalations will bring further suffering to Yemen, and put it at the forefront of regional and international escalation."
In response to Washington’s attacks, the rebels' political bureau said US “aggression” would not go unanswered, with escalation met with escalation.
Authorities called on civilians to follow government guidelines and ignore opposition groups that “will attempt to cause chaos throughout the country”.
A Yemen-government official said authorities welcomed the move by Mr Trump to exert pressure on the Houthis and in turn send a warning to Iran to stop its support for proxies.
Mr Trump's "decisive approach is exactly what was needed to confront the Houthis", he said on condition of remaining anonymous. "Appeasement has only emboldened them. Only strength can bring stability and not concessions. The strikes are also a message to Iran to halt its actions and meddling in other states' affairs."
However, while the attacks focus on military installations and equipment, as well as draining Houthi resources, the group has consistently demonstrated its ability to adapt and recover, said Osamah Al Rawhani, Yemen expert and non-resident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council’s Middle East Programmes.
"Beyond their direct impact on the Houthis, these air strikes deeply affect civilians, as Houthi-controlled territory represents more than 60 per cent of Yemen’s population," he told The National. "This instils fear and increases resentment towards the United States from citizens who do not support the Houthis.
The attacks must have a "comprehensive approach that disrupts weapons and parts-smuggling from Iran, and addresses the political and economic drivers empowering the Houthis," he said "This week’s bombings risk prolonging the suffering of Yemenis."
Iran-backed Hezbollah condemned the large-scale military strikes, in a statement on Sunday.
Washington redesignated the Houthis a foreign terrorist organisation this month, reversing a Joe Biden-era policy.
The attacks also came days after Mr Trump sent a letter to Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, offering to hold talks on Tehran's nuclear programme. Mr Khamenei rejected the proposed negotiations, saying it letter was aimed at "deceiving public opinion" and increasing pressure on Iran.
Willy Lowry contributed to this report from Washington
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Tips for job-seekers
- Do not submit your application through the Easy Apply button on LinkedIn. Employers receive between 600 and 800 replies for each job advert on the platform. If you are the right fit for a job, connect to a relevant person in the company on LinkedIn and send them a direct message.
- Make sure you are an exact fit for the job advertised. If you are an HR manager with five years’ experience in retail and the job requires a similar candidate with five years’ experience in consumer, you should apply. But if you have no experience in HR, do not apply for the job.
David Mackenzie, founder of recruitment agency Mackenzie Jones Middle East
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
THE BIO
Favourite book: ‘Purpose Driven Life’ by Rick Warren
Favourite travel destination: Switzerland
Hobbies: Travelling and following motivational speeches and speakers
Favourite place in UAE: Dubai Museum
More coverage from the Future Forum
THE CLOWN OF GAZA
Director: Abdulrahman Sabbah
Starring: Alaa Meqdad
Rating: 4/5
Know before you go
- Jebel Akhdar is a two-hour drive from Muscat airport or a six-hour drive from Dubai. It’s impossible to visit by car unless you have a 4x4. Phone ahead to the hotel to arrange a transfer.
- If you’re driving, make sure your insurance covers Oman.
- By air: Budget airlines Air Arabia, Flydubai and SalamAir offer direct routes to Muscat from the UAE.
- Tourists from the Emirates (UAE nationals not included) must apply for an Omani visa online before arrival at evisa.rop.gov.om. The process typically takes several days.
- Flash floods are probable due to the terrain and a lack of drainage. Always check the weather before venturing into any canyons or other remote areas and identify a plan of escape that includes high ground, shelter and parking where your car won’t be overtaken by sudden downpours.
Match info
Australia 580
Pakistan 240 and 335
Result: Australia win by an innings and five runs
The biog
Age: 35
Inspiration: Wife and kids
Favourite book: Changes all the time but my new favourite is Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman
Best Travel Destination: Bora Bora , French Polynesia
Favourite run: Jabel Hafeet, I also enjoy running the 30km loop in Al Wathba cycling track
Intercontinental Cup
Namibia v UAE Saturday Sep 16-Tuesday Sep 19
Table 1 Ireland, 89 points; 2 Afghanistan, 81; 3 Netherlands, 52; 4 Papua New Guinea, 40; 5 Hong Kong, 39; 6 Scotland, 37; 7 UAE, 27; 8 Namibia, 27
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
UAE v Gibraltar
What: International friendly
When: 7pm kick off
Where: Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City
Admission: Free
Online: The match will be broadcast live on Dubai Exiles’ Facebook page
UAE squad: Lucas Waddington (Dubai Exiles), Gio Fourie (Exiles), Craig Nutt (Abu Dhabi Harlequins), Phil Brady (Harlequins), Daniel Perry (Dubai Hurricanes), Esekaia Dranibota (Harlequins), Matt Mills (Exiles), Jaen Botes (Exiles), Kristian Stinson (Exiles), Murray Reason (Abu Dhabi Saracens), Dave Knight (Hurricanes), Ross Samson (Jebel Ali Dragons), DuRandt Gerber (Exiles), Saki Naisau (Dragons), Andrew Powell (Hurricanes), Emosi Vacanau (Harlequins), Niko Volavola (Dragons), Matt Richards (Dragons), Luke Stevenson (Harlequins), Josh Ives (Dubai Sports City Eagles), Sean Stevens (Saracens), Thinus Steyn (Exiles)
Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
- Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
- Travel distance: Limited
- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
10 tips for entry-level job seekers
- Have an up-to-date, professional LinkedIn profile. If you don’t have a LinkedIn account, set one up today. Avoid poor-quality profile pictures with distracting backgrounds. Include a professional summary and begin to grow your network.
- Keep track of the job trends in your sector through the news. Apply for job alerts at your dream organisations and the types of jobs you want – LinkedIn uses AI to share similar relevant jobs based on your selections.
- Double check that you’ve highlighted relevant skills on your resume and LinkedIn profile.
- For most entry-level jobs, your resume will first be filtered by an applicant tracking system for keywords. Look closely at the description of the job you are applying for and mirror the language as much as possible (while being honest and accurate about your skills and experience).
- Keep your CV professional and in a simple format – make sure you tailor your cover letter and application to the company and role.
- Go online and look for details on job specifications for your target position. Make a list of skills required and set yourself some learning goals to tick off all the necessary skills one by one.
- Don’t be afraid to reach outside your immediate friends and family to other acquaintances and let them know you are looking for new opportunities.
- Make sure you’ve set your LinkedIn profile to signal that you are “open to opportunities”. Also be sure to use LinkedIn to search for people who are still actively hiring by searching for those that have the headline “I’m hiring” or “We’re hiring” in their profile.
- Prepare for online interviews using mock interview tools. Even before landing interviews, it can be useful to start practising.
- Be professional and patient. Always be professional with whoever you are interacting with throughout your search process, this will be remembered. You need to be patient, dedicated and not give up on your search. Candidates need to make sure they are following up appropriately for roles they have applied.
Arda Atalay, head of Mena private sector at LinkedIn Talent Solutions, Rudy Bier, managing partner of Kinetic Business Solutions and Ben Kinerman Daltrey, co-founder of KinFitz
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
T20 World Cup Qualifier fixtures
Tuesday, October 29
Qualifier one, 2.10pm – Netherlands v UAE
Qualifier two, 7.30pm – Namibia v Oman
Wednesday, October 30
Qualifier three, 2.10pm – Scotland v loser of qualifier one
Qualifier four, 7.30pm – Hong Kong v loser of qualifier two
Thursday, October 31
Fifth-place playoff, 2.10pm – winner of qualifier three v winner of qualifier four
Friday, November 1
Semi-final one, 2.10pm – Ireland v winner of qualifier one
Semi-final two, 7.30pm – PNG v winner of qualifier two
Saturday, November 2
Third-place playoff, 2.10pm
Final, 7.30pm
Washmen Profile
Date Started: May 2015
Founders: Rami Shaar and Jad Halaoui
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Laundry
Employees: 170
Funding: about $8m
Funders: Addventure, B&Y Partners, Clara Ventures, Cedar Mundi Partners, Henkel Ventures
Teaching in coronavirus times
The Settlers
Director: Louis Theroux
Starring: Daniella Weiss, Ari Abramowitz
Rating: 5/5
Tips to stay safe during hot weather
- Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
- Seek cool environments: Use air conditioning, fans, or visit community spaces with climate control.
- Limit outdoor activities: Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat. If outside, seek shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
- Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
- Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
- Home adaptations: Use blinds or curtains to block sunlight, avoid using ovens or stoves, and ventilate living spaces during cooler hours.
- Recognise heat illness: Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea), and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.
