US Airstrike on Yemen Prison Kills 68 Migrants: Houthi

Yemen’s Houthi rebels claim a U.S. airstrike struck a prison holding African migrants in the northern Saada governorate on Monday, killing at least 68 people and injuring 47. The U.S. military has not yet responded to the allegation.

The facility, located in a Houthi stronghold, reportedly housed over 100 migrants—many from Ethiopia—detained while trying to reach Saudi Arabia for work. The strike, if confirmed, marks one of the deadliest incidents in the ongoing U.S. campaign in Yemen, part of “Operation Rough Rider.”

Graphic Aftermath and Houthi Claims
Footage aired by Houthi-run al-Masirah TV showed the aftermath of the explosion, with victims lying amid rubble. The Houthi Interior Ministry said 115 migrants had been held at the site. Their Civil Defense organization confirmed the death toll and injuries.

The strike comes amid rising scrutiny of the U.S. air campaign, which has reportedly conducted over 800 strikes in recent months. A recent U.S. strike on the Ras Isa fuel port killed 74 people, making it the deadliest of the operation so far.

US Military Stance
U.S. Central Command, in a statement issued hours before news of the prison strike, defended its policy of withholding operational details, citing security concerns. The military did not respond to AP’s inquiries about the Saada incident.

Migrants Caught in Conflict
African migrants have long used Yemen as a transit route, despite the country’s devastating war. Many face detention, abuse, and even death along the journey. A 2022 UN letter to Saudi Arabia cited allegations of deadly cross-border attacks on migrants by Saudi forces—claims the kingdom denies.

This latest incident mirrors a 2022 Saudi-led coalition strike on the same compound, which killed 66 detainees. The UN later criticized the coalition, noting the site’s known use as a detention center.

Wider Military Context
The U.S. says its campaign targets the Houthis for attacks on Red Sea shipping and Israeli targets, alleging Iranian backing. It operates from the USS Harry S. Truman in the Red Sea and the USS Carl Vinson in the Arabian Sea.

A Central Command statement Monday said strikes have killed “hundreds of Houthi fighters and leaders,” though names were not disclosed.

Houthis Tighten Media Control
In a separate move, the Houthis ordered residents to surrender Starlink satellite internet devices, threatening arrests and crackdowns to control information flow from rebel-held areas.