Houthi Reports Fatal Strikes in Yemen Linked to U.S. Actions
Sanaa: The Houthi movement in Yemen reported on Thursday that recent airstrikes attributed to the United States resulted in the deaths of three people in the capital, Sanaa. These strikes are part of a growing military campaign by Washington to pressure the Houthis to cease their threats against vessels in crucial maritime areas.
According to the Houthi-run news agency Saba, the local health ministry declared, “Three citizens were killed in the American aggression in the Sabeen neighborhood of the capital.”
Additionally, Houthi sources mentioned attacks on Kamaran Island, located in the Hodeida region, claiming that a U.S. airstrike there on Tuesday night resulted in the deaths of 13 individuals, including women and children.
Since the escalation of U.S. military efforts on March 15, the Houthis have reiterated their attacks on U.S. military vessels and have also directed their actions toward Israel. They assert that these moves are in solidarity with the Palestinian people amid ongoing tensions in Gaza.
The Houthi militia resumed targeting maritime traffic in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden after the onset of the Gaza conflict in October 2023. They had temporarily halted these operations during a ceasefire that was in effect in January.
In recent developments, the Israeli government severed all supply lines to Gaza at the beginning of March and resumed military operations there on March 18, effectively ending a two-month ceasefire. The U.S. airstrike campaign was initiated following Houthi threats to renew assaults on vessels in response to Israel’s blockade of Gaza.
A watchdog group within the Pentagon announced it would investigate Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and other officials amidst concerns over a leak detailing the U.S. strikes. The Atlantic Magazine revealed that confidential messages had been accidentally shared among high-ranking U.S. officials via a messaging app. Although the White House maintained that no classified information was disclosed, the magazine later published additional details about the attack plans.
The Red Sea is a vital maritime corridor, accounting for approximately 12 percent of global shipping traffic. However, the Houthi attacks have compelled many shipping companies to reroute their vessels significantly around the southern tip of Africa to avoid danger.
