US Airstrikes Kill 12 in Yemen’s Capital

U.S. airstrikes in Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, killed at least 12 people and injured 30 others, according to Houthi rebel officials. The attack marks a significant escalation in the U.S. military's campaign against the rebels, though the U.S. military's Central Command declined to comment on the operation or the civilian casualties resulting from it.

The Houthis reported that the airstrikes targeted the Farwa neighborhood market in Sanaa’s Shuub district, an area that has previously been struck by American forces. Footage showed extensive damage to vehicles and buildings, with emergency responders attending to the wounded. Disturbing scenes showed onlookers crying as they rushed injured individuals, including a child, to local hospitals.

In addition to the Sanaa strike, overnight airstrikes targeted several other regions across Yemen, including Amran, Hodeida, Marib, and Saada governorates, further intensifying the violence.

These airstrikes follow last week's deadly assault on Yemen’s Ras Isa fuel port, which killed at least 74 people and wounded 171 others. The ongoing strikes are part of a broader campaign that coincides with renewed negotiations between the U.S. and Iran concerning Tehran’s nuclear advancements, which Washington links to the situation in Yemen.

The U.S. military has focused its efforts on the Houthis due to the group's escalating attacks on maritime shipping in the Red Sea, a vital trade route, and their involvement in targeting Israeli interests. As the final militant group in Iran's self-declared “Axis of Resistance,” the Houthis have regularly threatened Israel with attacks.

This new wave of U.S. airstrikes marks a significant shift in the U.S. approach to the Houthis, intensifying their operations beyond the scope of previous efforts under President Joe Biden. These strikes follow Houthi threats to resume attacks on Israeli vessels after Israel blocked aid from entering Gaza.

Between November 2023 and January 2024, the Houthis launched more than 100 missile and drone attacks on commercial vessels, sinking two and killing four sailors. These actions have disrupted trade through the Red Sea, a corridor that handles about $1 trillion in goods annually. Despite targeting American warships, the Houthis’ attacks on U.S. naval assets have been unsuccessful.