The Houthis claimed on Sunday to have fired 18 ballistic missiles and a drone at the USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier group.

The United States will keep attacking Yemen's Houthis until they end attacks on shipping, the U.S. defense secretary said on Sunday, as the Iran-aligned group signaled it could escalate in response to deadly U.

A U.S. official confirmed to ABC News that U.S. air and naval assets hit dozens of Houthi targets in Yemen, including missiles, radars, and drone and air defense systems. The official characterized the attacks as an opening salvo against the Houthis, and it sends a strong message to Iran.

The president vowed to use “overwhelming lethal force” against the militant group for its attacks at sea and told Tehran to end its support or face consequences.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has framed the strikes as evidence that the U.S. fears the growing strength of Yemen's Houthi rebels.