U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin stated on the 16th that the U.S. military would not stop airstrikes unless the Houthi forces in Yemen cease their attacks on U.S. ships and Drones. In an interview with Fox News, he said, "Once the Houthi forces declare 'we will stop firing at U.S. ships and Drones,' this operation will end." He mentioned that until then, the U.S. military would 'relentlessly' strike against the Houthi forces. The Houthi forces in Yemen declared on the 16th that U.S. airstrikes since the 15th had resulted in 53 deaths and 98 injuries.