U.S. forces are intensifying Operation Rough Rider in Yemen amid upcoming talks about Tehran’s escalating nuclear program.
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Wednesday warned Iran it faces serious military consequences for supporting the Houthis.
The U.S. operation against the Houthis in Yemen, dubbed Operation Rough Rider, has been targeting the terrorists as the Trump administration negotiates with Iran over its nuclear program.
In an April 30 social media post, Hegseth wrote, “Message to IRAN: We see your lethal support to The Houthis. We know exactly what you are doing. You know very well what the U.S. Military is capable of—and you were warned. You will pay the CONSEQUENCE at the time and place of our choosing.”
Message to IRAN:
— Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth (@SecDef) May 1, 2025
We see your LETHAL support to The Houthis. We know exactly what you are doing.
You know very well what the U.S. Military is capable of — and you were warned. You will pay the CONSEQUENCE at the time and place of our choosing.
The United States and Iran are set to reconvene for talks in Rome on Saturday. Mediated by the Gulf state of Oman, the talks are aimed at sealing a deal that would block Tehran from acquiring a nuclear weapon while lifting economic sanctions imposed by Washington.
The United States and Iran have so far held three rounds of indirect talks.
The United States is conducting strikes on Yemen from two aircraft carriers in the region, the USS Harry S. Truman in the Red Sea and the USS Carl Vinson in the Arabian Sea.
It is targeting the Iranian-backed Houthis because of the group’s attacks on Israel and shipping in the Red Sea, a crucial global trade route.
On April 27, the United States Central Command (USCENTCOM) said that since the start of Operation Rough Rider, it had struck more than 800 targets.
Yemen’s government has also been battling against the Houthis, who have taken control of portions of Yemen in recent years. Just south of Saudi Arabia, Yemen sits on the Gulf of Aden and has a population of about 39 million.
The Houthis, who are supportive of Hamas in Gaza, have stated that they attack ships connected to Israel.
Iran has supplied drones and drone technology to its allies in the so-called Axis of Resistance, which includes the Houthis in Yemen and Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Both have used drones against Israel, although the Houthis have tended to target shipping in the Red Sea and the Bab el-Mandab Strait.
By Owen Evans
