Houthis announce new attack on American warships, fresh US strikes

Hamas allies the Houthis have declared new attacks on US warships as US Secretary of State Marco Rubio slammed the Iran-backed rebel group as a “Frankenstein monster”.

Yemen’s Houthis said they carried out their third attack on American warships in 48 hours, following US strikes on the Iran-backed rebels that sparked mass protests in areas under their control.

The rebels also condemned Israel’s wave of strikes on Gaza, which the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory said killed more than 400 people, vowing to escalate their own operations in support of ally Hamas.

In their latest retaliation, the Houthis said on Telegram that they fired missiles and drones at the USS Harry S. Truman, calling it the “third in the past 48 hours” on the fleet in the northern Red Sea.

A cruise missile being fired from the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Gettysburg (CG 64) at sea during operations against Yemen's Houthis. Picture: AFP

US Air Force Lieutenant General Alexus Grynkewich earlier told reporters it was “hard to confirm” the attacks claimed by the Houthis as the rebels were missing their targets “by over 100 miles” (160 kilometres).

Houthi media said fresh US strikes hit the Hodeida, Al-Salif and Sanaa early Tuesday, hours after tens of thousands demonstrated, chanting “Death to America, death to Israel!” in the capital.

Images of a fireball exploding on a cargo ship are shown on a giant screen during a protest called for by Yemen's rebel Houthi movement in Sanaa. Picture: AFP

There were also large crowds in Saada, the birthplace of the Houthi movement, and demonstrations in Dhamar, Hodeida and Amran.

The protests came after Washington launched its fresh campaign of air strikes on Yemen beginning Saturday, killing 53 people and wounding 98 according to the Huthi-run health ministry.

Washington has vowed to keep hitting Yemen until the Houthis stop firing on shipping.

In a televised interview with Fox News, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the Houthis do “not exist” without Iran.

“Without Iran, there is no Houthi threat of this magnitude,” he said. “They created this Frankenstein monster, and now they got to own it.”

TRUMP CALLS FOR IMPEACHMENT OF ‘MIGRANT FLIGHT’ JUDGE

US President Donald Trump has called for the impeachment of Chief DC US District Judge James Boasberg, who ordered the suspension of deportation flights of alleged Venezuelan gang members, in one of his most direct attacks to date on the judiciary.

“This judge, like many of the Crooked Judges’ I am forced to appear before, should be IMPEACHED,” Mr Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social, the platform he owns.

Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts scolded Mr Trump in a rare direct response to a presidential statement, saying: “For more than two centuries, it has been established that impeachment is not an appropriate response to disagreement concerning a judicial decision.

“The normal appellate review process exists for that reason,” the chief justice concluded.

CONOR MCGREGOR SPARKS BACKLASH AFTER TRUMP MEETING

Controversial Irish MMA fighter Conor McGregor has sparked controversy with anti-immigration comments made during his White House visit meeting with Donald Trump.

Accompanied by his partner and four children, McGregor praised the US president’s work ethic as “inspiring” as he met him in the Oval Office on St Patrick’s Day.

McGregor said “Ireland is on the cusp of losing its Irishness” and that an “illegal immigration racket” was “running ravage on the country”.

Irish professional mixed martial artist and businessman Conor McGregor speaks from the White House briefing room podium with White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt. Picture: AFP

Last week, Mr Trump singled out “Conor” – who last year was found liable for sexual assault after a civil trial – as one of his favourite Irish people.

Wearing a green business suit for Ireland’s national day, McGregor attended the White House at Mr Trump’s invitation and took part in an impromptu Q&A with reporters.

“There are rural towns in Ireland that have been overrun in one swoop,” he said, speaking in the White House briefing room alongside the president’s press secretary, Karoline Leavitt.

McGregor accused the Irish government of “abandoning” the voices of the people of Ireland as he criticised immigration policies.

Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin swiftly condemned the comments.

“Conor McGregor’s remarks are wrong, and do not reflect the spirit of St Patrick’s Day, or the views of the people of Ireland,” he said on X. “St Patrick’s Day around the world is a day rooted in community, humanity, friendship and fellowship.”

Conor McGregor meets with President Trump in the Oval Office.

Conor McGregor, with his family at the Oval Office.

TRUMP VOIDS BIDEN PARDONS

It comes as the president said that he was voiding all the last-minute pardons former President Joe Biden made using autopen.

“The ‘Pardons’ that Sleepy Joe Biden gave to the Unselect Committee of Political Thugs, and many others, are hereby declared VOID, VACANT, AND OF NO FURTHER FORCE OR EFFECT, because of the fact that they were done by Autopen,” Mr Trump posted on Truth Social.

Former US President Joe Biden speaks during a farewell ceremony at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, on January 20, 2025, following Donald Trump's inauguration. Picture: AFP

“In other words, Joe Biden did not sign them but, more importantly, he did not know anything about them!” he said of the oldest-ever president, who was 82 when he signed the pardons after months of speculation about his mental fitness for the job.

Mr Trump also warned that members of the former January 6 House select committee who Mr Biden issued pardons to would be “subject to investigation at the highest level.”

He expressed outrage after Mr Biden issued the pre-emptive pardons, blasting the move as “disgraceful” and saying, “Many are guilty of MAJOR CRIMES!”

US President-elect Donald Trump greets US President Joe Biden as he arrives for inauguration ceremonies in the Rotunda of the US Capitol on January 20, 2025. Picture: AFP

The legal basis for his argument appears uncertain, and Mr Trump’s attack on auto-signatures ignores that they have been used by previous presidents.

However, the narrative taps into the 47th president’s longtime theory that a senile Biden was not in charge as president, while a mysterious “deep state” pulled the strings.

TRUMP SAYS ‘IRAN RESPONSIBLE’ FOR HOUTHI ATTACKS

President Donald Trump has declared he will hold Iran directly responsible for any future attacks by Yemen’s Tehran-backed Houthi rebels, who have targeted multiple US and other foreign ships in the Red Sea.

Donald Trump watching the attacks he ordered on Yemen. Picture: X/WhiteHouse

An aircraft launching from the USS Harry S. Truman in the Red Sea before airstrikes in Sanaa, Yemen. Picture: U.S. Navy via AP

“Every shot fired by the Houthis will be looked upon, from this point forward, as being a shot fired from the weapons and leadership of IRAN, and IRAN will be held responsible, and suffer the consequences,” Mr Trump posted on his Truth Social platform.

He spoke after the first US strikes on Yemen of his new term killed 53 people and wounded 98 on Saturday.

“Let nobody be fooled! The hundreds of attacks being made by Houthi, the sinister mobsters and thugs based in Yemen, who are hated by the Yemeni people, all emanate from, and are created by, IRAN,” claimed Mr Trump who also said “Iran will suffer the consequences, and those consequences will be dire!”

Originally published as Houthis announce new attack on American warships, fresh US strikes