At least 80 people have died and 150 others were wounded after U.S. airstrikes hit Yemen’s Ras Isa oil port. Houthi officials are calling it one of the deadliest American operations on Yemeni soil.
The strikes, carried out Thursday, were confirmed by U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), which described them as a targeted attack on a critical revenue source for the Iran-backed Houthi rebels. “The objective of these strikes was to degrade the economic source of power of the Houthis,” CENTCOM said in a statement.
However, the fallout has been severe. The Hodeidah Health Office and Houthi-affiliated Al-Masirah television report that victims include port workers, truck drivers, and rescue workers caught off guard during the attack.
“The first four air raids were waged while the people were working,” said Mohammed al-Attab, an Al Jazeera correspondent in Sanaa. “The air raids took employees by surprise.”
Widespread Destruction
Videos aired by Al Masirah and posted online show explosions, burning rubble, and graphic images of civilian casualties. Survivors with burns and destroyed equipment paint a grim picture of the strike’s aftermath.
The Ras Isa port plays a critical role in Yemen’s economy, handling 70 percent of imports and 80 percent of humanitarian aid. According to the United Nations Development Programme, it is “critical and irreplaceable.”
Condemnation has spread across Yemen, with mass protests erupting in the capital. Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree warned of retaliation. “The American military build-up and continued aggression against our country will only lead to more counter-attacks, clashes, and confrontations,” he told demonstrators.
Soon after the strikes, Houthi forces claimed missile attacks on U.S. aircraft carriers and sites in Israel. Israel’s military stated it intercepted one missile launched from Yemen.
Escalating Red Sea Tensions
The U.S. operation follows months of escalating hostilities in the Red Sea. Since November 2023, the Houthis have launched more than 100 attacks on commercial vessels, alleging they are connected to Israel and defending Palestinians in Gaza.
The Biden administration has warned that airstrikes will continue unless these attacks stop. This latest escalation marks the most extensive U.S. military campaign in the Middle East since President Donald Trump left office.
In March, U.S. airstrikes reportedly killed over 50 people in two days. Despite rising casualties, Houthi leaders insist American attacks will only strengthen their resolve.
“The American enemy’s crimes will not deter the Yemeni people from supporting Gaza,” said senior Houthi official Mohammed Nasser al-Atifi. “They will strengthen their steadfastness and resilience.”
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