U.S. Hits Yemen’s Sanaa, Hodeida After Deadly Strike \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ The U.S. military launched new airstrikes on Yemen’s Houthi-controlled capital, Sanaa, and the port city of Hodeida, just days after a deadly attack on Ras Isa killed 74. The strikes are part of a month-long campaign responding to Houthi threats in the Red Sea. The United Nations expressed concern over civilian casualties.
Quick Looks
- U.S. carried out 13 new airstrikes in Hodeida and Sanaa, Yemen
- Strikes targeted Hodeida airport and port infrastructure
- The attack follows a deadly U.S. strike on Ras Isa that killed 74
- Over 200 deaths reported in U.S. campaign since March 16
- Houthis have launched missiles at Israel and attacked Red Sea vessels
- U.N. Secretary-General Guterres expressed concern over civilian harm
- U.S. Central Command said strikes are not aimed at Yemeni civilians
- Latest attacks are part of a broader campaign to defend shipping lanes
- No immediate casualties reported from Saturday’s strikes
- Houthi media and health ministry continue to track impact of bombing
Deep Look
The United States military launched a new wave of airstrikes on Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen on Saturday, striking the capital city of Sanaa and the strategic Red Sea port city of Hodeida, according to Houthi sources. The bombardment comes less than 48 hours after a U.S. airstrike on Ras Isa port that reportedly killed 74 people and injured 171—making it the deadliest single attack in Washington’s ongoing campaign against the Iranian-backed rebels.
The Houthis’ media office reported 13 separate airstrikes in Hodeida alone, including hits on the city’s airport and port facilities. Airstrikes were also confirmed in Sanaa, the rebel-held capital of the war-torn country.
While the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) has not publicly detailed Saturday’s operation, it issued a general statement confirming ongoing military activity in Yemen aimed at dismantling Houthi capabilities.
A Campaign Rooted in Red Sea Security
The latest bombardments are part of a month-long U.S. military campaign designed to counter Houthi attacks on commercial shipping routes in the Red Sea and missile and drone strikes on Israel. The Bab el-Mandeb Strait and surrounding waters are key global trade arteries, making Houthi disruptions a significant geopolitical flashpoint.
CENTCOM has repeatedly emphasized that the strikes are intended to neutralize military threats, not to harm civilians.
“This strike was not intended to harm the people of Yemen,” the U.S. military said in a recent statement, declining to answer questions about reported civilian casualties.
The Ras Isa Strike: Most Lethal to Date
Thursday’s strike on Ras Isa, a port facility in Hodeida province, marked a dramatic escalation. According to the Houthi-run Health Ministry, the attack left 74 people dead and 171 wounded, the highest casualty count in the U.S. campaign thus far.
The Houthi government described the strike as a “massacre”, accusing the U.S. of violating international law and targeting civilian infrastructure.
“These attacks will not go unanswered,” a Houthi spokesperson said.
The United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres issued a strong statement on Saturday expressing grave concern over the Ras Isa incident and ongoing violence in the region.
“International law, including humanitarian law, must be respected at all times,” said U.N. spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric. “The secretary-general appeals to all parties to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure.”
Red Sea Shipping in the Crosshairs
Since late 2023, Houthi forces have stepped up attacks on ships in the Red Sea, targeting vessels they claim are linked to Israel or the United States. These actions have drawn widespread international condemnation and sparked coordinated responses, including U.S.-led naval patrols and now a direct bombing campaign.
The U.S. and U.K. have led several joint airstrikes on Houthi military installations, citing the need to protect global trade and deter future aggression.
The Trump administration has taken a particularly aggressive stance, citing Houthi actions as provocations and labeling them as Iranian proxies destabilizing the region.
Civilian Toll Mounting
According to figures from the Houthi health ministry, at least 200 people have been killed since the U.S. bombing campaign resumed on March 16. The numbers include fighters and civilians, although the exact breakdown remains unclear due to restricted access for independent observers.
Humanitarian organizations operating in Yemen have raised alarms about the increasing toll on civilians, especially in urban areas like Hodeida and Sanaa, where residential and industrial zones overlap.
“We are extremely concerned about the humanitarian fallout from these strikes,” said a regional coordinator with Doctors Without Borders. “We urge all parties to avoid civilian casualties.”
A Complex Regional Conflict
The situation in Yemen is emblematic of broader Middle East tensions, particularly the proxy conflict between the United States and Iran. The Houthis, who seized Sanaa in 2014 and have held most of northern Yemen since, are aligned with Tehran, though the extent of Iran’s operational control remains debated.
The group’s involvement in attacks on Israeli territory has further complicated the conflict, especially amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas war in Gaza. Analysts warn that continued U.S. strikes on Yemen could inflame anti-American sentiment and further destabilize the region.
“This isn’t just a shipping conflict,” said political analyst Rami Nasrallah. “This is about Yemen becoming a new frontline in the broader U.S.-Iran-Israel triangle.”
What’s Next?
While CENTCOM insists that the campaign is targeted and limited, the lack of transparency around casualty figures and civilian impact is drawing increasing criticism from rights groups and international watchdogs.
Calls for a diplomatic solution are growing, but no clear peace roadmap has emerged. With both sides entrenched and regional tensions high, more strikes and retaliation seem likely in the near term.
For Yemeni civilians—already suffering from years of war, famine, and disease—the latest developments represent a new chapter of violence in a long-running humanitarian catastrophe.
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