Urgent: Trump issued an order to the Pentagon - send combat troops; War is coming

The White House then published the entire text of the US President's letter to House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate President Chuck Grassley.

The letter outlined developments in Yemen and the wider Middle East, and said there was an urgent need to respond to what President Trump described as "piracy aggression" by the Houthis and ongoing threats to US troops and naval navigation.

President Trump said he "will no longer allow this group of pirates to threaten and attack American forces and commercial vessels" and ordered the Defense Department to act decisively.

This includes deploying additional combat-ready forces to the Middle East and launching coordinated air and naval strikes targeting Houthi leadership, infrastructure and weapons stockpiles.

The letter to Johnson and Grassley, which was sent pursuant to the War Powers Resolution, reaffirmed the president's intention to continue operations until the Houthi threat is neutralized, while emphasizing his constitutional authority to defend US interests and calling on Congress for continued support.

Trump also stated in the letter that, on his orders, forces under the United States Central Command have launched major strikes in areas of Yemen controlled by the Houthis to eliminate the capabilities the Houthis use to attack United States forces and commercial shipping in the Red Sea and surrounding waters.

US Navy ships and aircraft, along with US Air Force bombers, fighters and drones operating in and around Yemen, participated in these strikes.

Targets included Houthi rebel leadership and equipment, command and control facilities, and ammunition depots.

"We will continue these decisive military operations until the Houthi threat to United States forces and the rights and freedoms of navigation in the Red Sea and neighboring waters is reduced," Trump said.

"I am providing this report as part of my efforts to keep Congress fully informed, in accordance with the War Powers Resolution (Public Law 93-148). I directed these actions in accordance with my responsibility to protect the interests of Americans and the United States abroad, to advance the national security and foreign policy interests of the United States, in accordance with my constitutional authority as Commander in Chief and Chief Executive Officer to conduct the foreign relations of the United States. I appreciate the support of Congress in this action," the US president wrote.