DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Suspected U.S. airstrikes have reportedly killed at least two people in Saada, a stronghold of Yemen's Houthi rebels. This incident occurred overnight, and the Houthis have indicated that the casualties may be higher than they have officially acknowledged. The Iranian-backed group aired footage of a two-story building collapsing following the strikes, referring to the location as a solar power shop. Four others were reportedly wounded in the attack.
The ongoing airstrikes targeting the Houthis have intensified since March 15, coinciding with the group's involvement in attacks on shipping in the Middle East linked to the Israel-Hamas conflict. The Houthis claim that these strikes have led to at least 69 casualties. However, they have not officially recognized any deaths among their military leadership, which the U.S. suggests might contradict their claims following a video post by former President Donald Trump.
Trump shared a black-and-white drone video early Saturday, showing a gathering of a group of people before an explosion occurs. He claimed that this group was planning an attack, stating, “Oops, there will be no attack by these Houthis! They will never sink our ships again!” Despite this assertion, the U.S. military's Central Command has not released details or provided confirmation on the specific strikes conducted recently. The White House indicated there have been over 200 airstrikes targeting the Houthis to date.
According to the rebel-controlled SABA news agency in Yemen, an unnamed source described a bombing that targeted a social gathering during Eid al-Fitr celebrations in Hodeida governorate. This festival marks the end of Ramadan, and SABA stated that individuals present had no connection to Houthi military operations, although the report did not specify casualties as civilians. The Houthi-controlled media suggested a high casualty count without corresponding details from their leadership.
Mohammed al-Basha, a Yemen expert from the Basha Report risk advisory firm, noted social media condolences indicating that a Houthi police colonel and his brothers might have been killed in the strike highlighted by Trump. Al-Basha elaborated that the airstrikes have expanded significantly, impacting multiple governorates and targeting various Houthi assets, including telecommunications infrastructure, command nodes, and tunnels previously untouched by previous operations.
The new U.S. military campaign, which has intensified since nearly a month ago, appears to be more extensive than prior operations under former President Joe Biden. It reflects a shift in strategy from targeting solely launch sites to engaging personnel directly and conducting strikes in urban areas.
This escalation follows the Houthis' threats to target Israeli vessels in response to aid blockades affecting Gaza. The Houthis have previously engaged more than 100 merchant ships using missiles and drones, sinking two and resulting in casualties among sailors during late 2023 and early 2024. They have also attempted attacks on American warships without success.
This military campaign signifies the Houthis' rising profile amidst their long-standing struggle, exacerbated by economic hardships and crackdowns on dissent within Yemen. It is strongly linked to U.S. efforts to exert pressure on Iran, particularly concerning the country's advancing nuclear program, as the Trump administration has repeatedly justified the airstrikes as an integral part of this objective.
