'We will not be nice about it': Pete Hegseth says U.S. 'unrelenting' attacks on Hout

03-17-2025 • https://www.wnd.com, By Joe Kovacs

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.

'This is not the Biden administration. The message is clear'

"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.