The White House on Tuesday released texts of letters President Donald Trump sent to two leading Republican lawmakers to explain his directive that U.S. Central Command begin large-scale strikes in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen.

Numerous airstrikes targeting the Houthis have been reported in recent weeks. A Saudi newspaper on Tuesday reported U.S. military strikes in Yemen have killed at least 500 Houthi fighters, including senior commanders, according to The Jewish News Syndicate.

In March 28 letters to House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., and Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, president pro tempore of the upper chamber, Trump said he directed the Defense Department “to move additional forces equipped for combat into the Middle East to enhance the defensive capabilities available to United States forces and facilitate necessary military actions.”

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