Secretary of State Marco Rubio says airstrikes on Iran-backed Houthis are "doing the world a favor"

Washington — Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Sunday that U.S. airstrikes in Yemen on the Iran-backed Houthi rebels are targeting the group's ability to strike global shipping and attack the U.S. military, and are "doing the world a favor." 

"We're doing the entire world a favor by getting rid of these guys and their ability to strike global shipping. That's the mission here, and it will continue until that's carried out," Rubio said on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan."

President Trump announced the strikes Saturday, saying the U.S. would use "overwhelming lethal force" until the Houthis cease shipping attacks. U.S. Central Command confirmed the strike in a social media post Saturday, and it's prepared to extend the campaign on the Houthis from the air and the sea for potentially weeks depending on reaction from the Houthis and Iran, a U.S. official told CBS News.