London – The Iranian general warned on Sunday of a possible “decisive and catastrophic” response to the threat carried out a day after the US struck in Yemen’s Houtsis.
General Hossein Salami also denied Iran supporting rebel groups. The rebel groups continue their campaign against international ships on the Red Sea and Yemeni coast.
In this screen glove, obtained from handouts released on March 15, 2025, smoke explosively rose after President Donald Trump launched a military strike against Hutis, lined up in Yemen on Saturday, followed by a projectile crashing into a group of buildings at an undisclosed location.
Centcom via Reuters
“We are not a country that lives in hiding. We are an effective and legal system in the world. We will announce it when we attack anywhere,” Salami said in a speech broadcast in Falsi.
The general did not say Iran was under threat, but said it would provide a “decisive and devastating response to any threat.”
Salami’s words reflected President Donald Trump’s words. He announced on Saturday that he ordered the US troops to launch a “decisive and powerful” strike against Yemen’s Houtis.
US President Donald Trump appears to be launching a military strike against Huutis, lined up in Yemen’s Iran, about the group’s attacks on transport in the Red Sea, in an unspecified location in the delivery image released on March 15, 2025.
White House via Reuters
“They have launched a relentless campaign of copyright infringement, violence and terrorism against the United States and other ships, aircraft and drones,” Trump said. “Use overwhelming lethal force until you achieve your goal.”
US officials confirmed with ABC News that US air and naval assets have collided with dozens of Yemen’s Houthi targets, including missiles, radar, drones and air defense systems. Officials characterize the attack as an opening salvo against the Houtis, sending a strong message to Iran.
With this screen glove, obtained from a handout video released on March 15, 2025, the ship will launch missiles at private locations after President Donald Trump launched a military strike against the Housis lined up in Yemen’s Iran on Saturday.
Sencom via Reuters
Health officials in Yemeni said the campaign killed around 31 people and injured another 101. Many of the injured were “children and women,” Sanaa’s health ministry said Sunday morning.
National Security Advisor Mike Waltz said on Sunday morning that the US strike took away “multiple Houthi leaders” on ABC’s “this week.”
Waltz said the strike was more important than the strikes that took place during former President Joe Biden’s inauguration.
“This was an overwhelming response that actually targeted multiple Houthi leaders and took them out. And the difference here is that they are following the Houthi leaders and the two are responsible for Iran,” added Waltz.
National Security Advisor Michael Waltz will be speaking with ABC News this week.
ABC News
Asked if there was a possibility of directing US military action against Iran, Waltz replied, “All options are always at the table with the president, but Iran needs to hear him loudly and clearly.” Iran’s support for Iran, Iraqi militia, Hamas, Lebanon’s Hezbollah and other groups are “completely unacceptable” and “can be stopped,” Waltz said.
Trump has made it clear that Iran “cannot have nuclear weapons,” Waltz continued. “To make sure all options are on the table and there’s no one, that’s all aspects of Iran’s program. That’s missiles, weaponization, enrichment. They can hand over it and either give it up in a verifiable way or face a series of other consequences.”
“But either way, you can’t have a world with Ayatollah with your finger on the nuclear button.”
Luis Martinez, Selina Wang, Kelsey Walsh, Hannah Demissie and Quinn Scanlan of ABC News contributed to this report.
