We struck with overwhelming force and made Iran aware that enough is enough, says US National Security Adviser Michael Waltz to Fox News.
Saturday's attack was the first for the US against Yemen since Donald Trump took office as president.
At least 31 civilians are reported to have been killed and over 100 injured, according to Houthi-controlled authorities.
Michael Waltz told ABC News on Sunday that the airstrikes "targeted several Houthi leaders and took them out".
Trump justifies the attacks by saying he wants to deter the Houthis from attacking shipping in the Red Sea. The Iran-backed movement has, since the start of the Gaza war, shaken global trade with a series of such attacks, described as revenge against Israel and its allies.
However, since the ceasefire in the Gaza war began in January, no ships have been attacked, making the US's new airstrikes more unexpected – and reinforcing the image that it is a show of power against the regional powerhouse Iran.
"To Iran: Support for Houthi terrorists must cease immediately!", wrote the American president on the Truth Social platform on Saturday evening.
In response, the mullah regime in Tehran says Iran supports whoever it wants. "The US government has neither the authority nor anything to do with Iran's foreign policy", writes Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on the X platform. "Stop killing Yemenis", he adds.
