The BLUF - March 18th

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This is Atlas, and you’re reading the Bottom Line Up Front, where we cover the top geopolitical stories from around the world every Tuesday!

Today’s topics:

• US Strikes Against Houthis Continue

• China Hosts Iranian Officials For Nuclear Talks

• Hundreds Expelled From US After Invocation Alien Enemies Act of 1798

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US Strikes Against Houthis Continue

_{By: Atlas}

The United States has launched a sustained military campaign against Yemen's Houthi rebels, with airstrikes continuing for multiple days in what represents a significant escalation compared to previous limited operations. President Donald Trump ordered the initial wave of strikes on March 15, vowing to use "overwhelming lethal force" until the Iran-backed group ends its attacks on ships in one of the world's most crucial maritime corridors.

"Our brave Warfighters are right now carrying out aerial attacks on the terrorists' bases, leaders, and missile defenses to protect American shipping, air, and naval assets, and to restore Navigational Freedom," Trump wrote on social media as the operation began. "No terrorist force will stop American commercial and naval vessels from freely sailing the Waterways of the World."

The military operation has targeted key Houthi capabilities across Yemen, with US Central Command releasing video footage of ongoing operations. According to Lt. Gen. Alexus Grynkewich, Joint Staff Director for Operations, the initial wave struck "over 30 targets at multiple locations, degrading a variety of Houthi capabilities," including training sites, drone infrastructure, weapons manufacturing facilities, and storage depots.

National Security Adviser Michael Waltz confirmed on "Fox News Sunday" that the strikes had resulted in significant blows to Houthi leadership, reporting that several key leaders had been killed. The Pentagon has claimed "dozens of military casualties" among Houthi forces while denying reports of civilian casualties, though Yemen's Houthi-controlled health ministry has reported at least 32 deaths, including children.

Red Sea Security Crisis

The military action comes after more than a year of Houthi attacks on commercial shipping and US naval vessels. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the Houthis have struck or attacked the US Navy "directly" 174 times and targeted commercial shipping 145 times over the past 18 months.

"We basically have a band of pirates with guided precision anti-ship weaponry exacting a toll system in one of the most important shipping lanes in the world. That's just not sustainable," Rubio told CBS's "Face the Nation."

The White House noted that it has been more than a year since a US-flagged commercial vessel has safely navigated through the Suez Canal, Red Sea, or Gulf of Aden. The security crisis has forced approximately 70% of global shipping to divert around the southern tip of Africa, adding significant costs and disrupting supply chains worldwide.

"It is Iran that has repeatedly funded, resourced, trained and helped the Houthis target not only US warships, but global commerce, and has helped the Houthis shut down two of the world's most strategic sea lanes," Waltz told ABC's "This Week," emphasizing the broader economic implications of the crisis.

Houthi Defiance and Retaliation

Despite the intensity of US strikes, the Houthis have shown no signs of backing down. On Sunday, the group claimed to have launched "a qualitative operation" against the USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier, saying they had targeted it with "18 ballistic and cruise missiles and a drone." The Pentagon dismissed these claims, stating that US warships had intercepted any incoming threats.

Nasruddin Amer, deputy head of the Houthi media office, pledged that more attacks on Red Sea shipping would follow, declaring that "Sanaa will remain Gaza's shield and support and will not abandon it no matter the challenges." The Houthis have consistently framed their maritime attacks as pressure tactics to force Israel to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza.

Iran Connection and Broader Strategy

President Trump has made it clear that while the Houthis are the immediate target, his administration holds Iran ultimately responsible for the group's actions. "Any further attack or retaliation by the 'Houthis' will be met with great force, and there is no guarantee that that force will stop there," Trump warned on social media, directly addressing Iran's role.

"Iran has played 'the innocent victim' of rogue terrorists from which they've lost control, but they haven't lost control," Trump continued. "They're dictating every move, giving them the weapons, supplying them with money and highly sophisticated Military equipment, and even, so-called, 'Intelligence.'"

Iranian officials have attempted to distance themselves from the Houthis' actions. Gen. Hossein Salami, head of Iran's Revolutionary Guard, claimed that Iran "plays no role in setting the national or operational policies" of allied militant groups in the region, a statement that conflicts with extensive evidence of Iranian material support.

A Different Approach

Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell emphasized that the current military campaign differs significantly from previous operations. "This is not an endless offensive. This is not about regime change in the Middle East, this is about putting American interests first," Parnell stated, while also noting that "if you shoot at American troops there will be consequences."

Defense experts have noted the stark contrast with earlier, more limited strikes. "We are already on day 3 of the military campaign and it has been unrelenting. This is much different than the smaller and more limited strikes during the Biden administration," observed Hudson fellow Rebecca Heinrichs.

State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce echoed this assessment: "The days of pinprick responses where we allow that to occur is over."

The administration has been careful not to specify whether the campaign might eventually include deployment of US ground forces to Yemen. When asked, Parnell declined to discuss force posture, saying it was "very important to keep the enemy guessing."

For now, the US operation continues with no clear timeline for conclusion, beyond President Trump's statement that strikes will persist until the Houthis no longer pose a threat to maritime navigation. The coming days will likely determine whether this sustained pressure achieves its strategic objectives or whether the conflict escalates further, potentially drawing in Iran more directly and complicating an already volatile regional security landscape.

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