In a series of recent developments, Yemen’s Houthi rebels announced Saturday that U.S. military forces carried out airstrikes on the cities of Sanaa and Hodeida. These actions occurred shortly after an earlier U.S. strike destroyed a port on the Red Sea, resulting in over 70 casualties. The Houthi media reported 13 U.S. airstrikes targeting an airport and port in Hodeida and additional strikes in Sanaa. Immediate details on casualty counts have yet to be made available.
The U.S. Central Command, responsible for overseeing military operations throughout the Middle East, confirmed the continuation of airstrikes targeting the Houthi forces in Yemen. In a previous attack on Thursday, the U.S. targeted Ras Isa, a port in Hodeida province, leading to 74 deaths and 171 injuries, according to reports from the Houthi-administered health ministry. This attack marked the deadliest incident in the ongoing U.S.-led bombing campaign aimed at the Iranian-backed rebels.
Reacting to these events, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres expressed serious concerns regarding the attack on Ras Isa, and similarly, the missile and drone assaults launched by the Houthis on Israel and nearby shipping routes. His spokesperson, Stéphane Dujarric, conveyed the Secretary-General’s emphasis on adhering to international law, including international humanitarian law, underscoring the importance of civilian and civilian infrastructure protection at all times.
While the U.S. Central Command opted not to comment on potential civilian harm, it released a statement clarifying that the objective of the strikes was not to inflict suffering on the Yemeni people. Over the past month, the Hodeida airstrikes have been a component of a protracted U.S. military campaign. Initiation of these actions was attributed by the Trump administration to the Houthi attacks on shipping lanes in the Red Sea, a key artery for global trade, and on Israel, a close U.S. ally.
Since March 16, the Houthi health ministry has documented an estimated 200 deaths resulting from the U.S. military campaign. The situation continues to draw international scrutiny and raises significant concerns about the humanitarian impact of intensified airstrikes in the region.