US Airstrikes Hit Houthi Sites in Yemen After Deadly Port Attack
The United States launched more airstrikes on Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen on Saturday, hitting the capital, Sana’a and the Red Sea port city of Hodeida.
The Houthis said 13 U.S. airstrikes targeted Hodeida’s airport and port and Sana’a. There were no immediate reports of casualties from the group. However, open-source reports, citing the Houthi Ministry of Health, stated that there were 12 people killed and 30 injured in the strikes on the Sha’ab district in Sana’a.
U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed that operations against the Houthis are ongoing but declined to provide additional details.
The recent strike follows Thursday’s attack on the Ras Isa oil port, which killed at least 80 people. CENTCOM said the target of the strike was fuel the Houthis use “to sustain their military operations, as a weapon of control, and to benefit economically from embezzling the profits.”
Meanwhile, protests against the U.S. and Israel are ongoing in Houthi-held cities. In Sana’a, demonstrators chanted “Death to America! Death to Israel!”
The U.S. campaign against the Houthis intensified in March, when a wave of airstrikes killed 53 people. The U.S. says the campaign is a response to Houthi missile and drone attacks on Red Sea shipping lanes and on Israel.
Since March 16, nearly 200 people have been killed in U.S. strikes, according to the Houthis.
The recent strikes in Yemen come as the U.S. resumes nuclear talks with Iran, which backs the Houthis.
