This story was originally published by the WND News Center.
PALM BEACH, Florida – U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth says American military strikes against the Houthis in Yemen are not a "one-night thing," and he echoed President Donald Trump's warning to Iran which has been sponsoring terror against ships in the Red Sea.
"This isn't a one-night thing," Hegseth said on "Sunday Morning Futures" with Maria Bartiromo on the Fox News Channel. "This will continue until you say we're done shooting at ships, we're done shooting at assets."
The U.S. military pounded targets in Yemen on Saturday to commence the operation.
"We got the reports last night. The Houthis' capital felt like an earthquake," said Hegseth.
"Dozens and dozens of precision heavy munitions dropping precisely on the targets that we wanted to hit, sending a very clear message. And the message is very clear to Iran as well.
"We will not be nice about it. This is not the Biden administration. The message is clear. We will come after the Houthis until they stop shooting at our ships and the Iranians better stay out of it."
More than 100 Houthis attacks have targeted shipping in the region since November 2023, claiming solidarity with Palestinians over Israel's war with Hamas in Gaza.
"Freedom of navigation is basic. It's a core national interest," said Hegseth.
"This campaign is about freedom of navigation and restoring deterrence. The minute the Houthis say we'll stop shooting at your ships, we'll stop shooting at your drones, this campaign will end; but until then, it will be unrelenting."
Saturday afternoon, Trump posted a message on Truth Social announcing the military strikes:
"Today, I have ordered the United States Military to launch decisive and powerful Military 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.
"Joe Biden's response was pathetically weak, so the unrestrained Houthis just kept going. 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 go through the Red Sea, four months ago, was attacked by the Houthis over a dozen times. Funded by Iran, the Houthi thugs have fired missiles at U.S. aircraft, and targeted our Troops and Allies. These relentless assaults have cost the U.S. and World Economy many BILLIONS of Dollars while, at the same time, putting innocent lives at risk.
"The Houthi attack on American vessels will not be tolerated. We will use overwhelming lethal force until we have achieved our objective. The Houthis have choked off shipping in one of the most important Waterways of the World, grinding vast swaths of Global Commerce to a halt, and attacking the core principle of Freedom of Navigation upon which International Trade and Commerce depends.
"Our brave Warfighters are right now carrying out aerial attacks on the terrorists' bases, leaders, and missile defenses to protect American shipping, air, and naval assets, and to restore Navigational Freedom. No terrorist force will stop American commercial and naval vessels from freely sailing the Waterways of the World.
"To all Houthi terrorists, 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!
"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 Worldwide shipping lanes. If you do, BEWARE, because America will hold you fully accountable and, we won't be nice about it!"
