In the Red Sea vicinity near Yemen’s port city of Hodeida, potential U.S. airstrikes reportedly caused significant chaos on Tuesday night, leading to the deaths of at least eight people, as claimed by the Iran-supported Houthi rebels.
The assaults were said to have targeted Hodeida’s al-Hawak district, resulting in injuries to 16 individuals. This district houses the city’s airport, an area formerly used by the rebels to aim at ships in the Red Sea.
Since the onset of these aggressive U.S. airstrikes, a response to rebel attacks on shipping lanes amidst the broader Middle Eastern tensions, at least 81 fatalities have been reported by the Houthis. This airstrike campaign is linked to intersecting conflicts like the Israel-Hamas war.
Visual evidence from al-Masirah, a satellite channel operated by the rebels, showed frantic efforts to move the injured to ambulances, alongside rescuers using their mobile phones to search the nighttime scene. The footage indicated that a residential area, potentially part of a strategic operation aimed at eliminating rebel leadership, was targeted.
Additional strikes were directed at Yemen’s mountainous Amran governorate, north of the capital Sanaa. The Houthis reported that American strikes there damaged telecommunication infrastructure, reminiscent of previous incidents in Amran involving Jebel Aswad, or the “Black Mountain.”
Further operations seemingly focused on Jebel Nuqum, near Sanaa, with additional strikes impacting Dhamar and Ibb governorates and resulting in three injuries.
While the U.S. military’s Central Command, responsible for American military undertakings in the region, has not verified these attacks, this aligns with their current practice. The command, sanctioned by the White House from March 15 onward, executes operations autonomously.
The specifics of the assault targets remain undisclosed by the U.S. military, despite over 200 strikes having been conducted, as stated by the White House.
During a session in the Oval Office with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth emphasized that the U.S. strategy to counter the Houthis would persist without easing.
“We have numerous strategies and increased pressure available,” said Hegseth. “Reports indicate the substantial impact of this campaign, and we will not ease our efforts.”
A review revealed that the current U.S. operations against the Houthis, under President Donald Trump’s leadership, appear more intensive than those under former President Joe Biden. The focus has shifted from simply targeting launch sites to striking at high-ranking figures and conducting strikes within urban areas.
This revitalized airstrike campaign ensued after the rebels hinted they might recommence targeting “Israeli” vessels in retaliation for Israel’s blockade restricting aid to the Gaza Strip. However, the term “Israeli ship” has been broadly interpreted by the rebels, implying a wider range of potential targets.
From November 2023 to January, the Houthis have attacked over 100 merchant ships using missiles and drones, consequently sinking two of these vessels and claiming the lives of four sailors. Unsuccessful attacks against American warships were also launched during this period.
With the Trump administration intertwining its military efforts with broader geopolitical aims, notably in pressuring Iran over its nuclear advancements, the continuation of the U.S. campaign against the Houthis appears inevitable.