President Donald Trump launched military strikes against the Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen, reportedly killing at least 24 people.
The Houthi-run health ministry said that 13 civilians were killed in the capital Sanaa, Reuters reports. At least 11 others were killed in the northern province of Saada, according to the Houthi-run Al-Masirah TV.
Trump said the strikes would continue until the Houthis stopped their attacks on shipping vessels off the coast.
“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 said in a social media post Saturday. “No terrorist force will stop American commercial and naval vessels from freely sailing the Waterways of the World.”
Meanwhile, a federal judge temporarily blocked the administration from carrying out deportations under the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, which the president invoked against members of a Venezuelan gang earlier Saturday.
Chief Judge James Boasberg issued a temporary restraining order on deportations under wartime law on Saturday night. This order blocks the deportation of any non-citizens in custody and facing removal under the Alien Enemies Act for at least 14 days.
