An Iranian general warned on Sunday of the potential for a “decisive and devastating” response to any executed threat, the day after the U.S. conducted strikes on Houthis in Yemen.
Gen. Hossein Salami also denied that Iran had backed the rebel group, which continues to wage a campaign against international ships in the Red Sea and off the Yemeni coast.
PHOTO: Smoke rises from an explosion after a projectile hit a group of buildings at an undisclosed location in this screengrab obtained from a handout video released on March 15, 2025. (CENTCOM via Reuters)
MORE: Trump orders attacks against Houthis in Yemen
“We are not a nation to live in hiding. We are a valid and legitimate system in the world. We announce it if we attack anywhere,” Salami said in a speech broadcast in Farsi.
The general did not say Iran had been threatened, but that the country would offer a “decisive and devastating response to any threat” against it.
Salami’s words echoed those of U.S. President Donald Trump, who announced Saturday he had ordered the U.S. military to launch a “decisive and powerful” strike against the Houthis in Yemen.
PHOTO: U.S. President Donald Trump looks on as military strikes are launched against Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthis over the group’s attacks against Red Sea shipping, at an unspecified location in this handout image released March 15, 2025. (White House via Reuters)
“They have waged an unrelenting campaign of piracy, violence, and terrorism against American, and other, ships, aircraft, and drones,” Trump said. “We will use overwhelming lethal force until we have achieved our objective.”
MORE: Trump moves to brand Houthis as a foreign terrorist organization again
A U.S. official confirmed to ABC News that U.S. air and naval assets hit dozens of Houthi targets in Yemen, including missiles, radars and drone and air defense systems. The official characterized the attacks as an opening salvo against the Houthis and sends a strong message to Iran.
PHOTO A ship fires missiles at an undisclosed location, after U.S. President Donald Trump launched military strikes against Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthis on March 15, 2025. (CENCOM via Reuters)
Yemeni health officials said the campaign had killed some 31 people, along with injuring another 101 people. Many of the wounded were “children and woman” the Ministry of Health in Sana’a said on Sunday morning.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
ABC News’ Luis Martinez, Selina Wang and Kelsey Walsh contributed to this report.
Iranian general raises prospect of response amid US strikes on Houthis originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
