The United States has launched airstrikes against cities in Yemen controlled by Houthi militants, who are backed by Iran. This military action took place over the weekend, starting on Friday and continuing into Saturday. According to reports from the Houthi-run SABA news agency, the strikes resulted in the death of at least one civilian and injuries to four others. The Houthis often wear civilian clothing, and they are known to underreport casualties.
The strikes targeted the Yemeni capital, Sanaa, as well as areas in the governorates of al-Jawf and Saada, all under Houthi control. The U.S. has not officially confirmed the airstrikes. This escalation follows a recent strike on the Houthi general command headquarters, which the U.S. military showcased in a video released on Friday.
These airstrikes are part of a larger strategy by the U.S. to deter the Houthis from attacking Israel or commercial shipping in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a vital waterway connecting the Gulf of Aden to the Red Sea. Under the Trump administration, the U.S. has increased its military focus on the Houthis, expanding its targets to include high-ranking commanders and significant military installations.
The Houthis have been active in threatening commercial shipping and have launched missile attacks on Israel, expressing solidarity with Hamas in Gaza. Despite the heightened military response from the U.S., the Houthis continue their operations. Recently, Israeli missile defenses intercepted multiple ballistic missiles fired by the Houthis, with the latest interception occurring on Sunday morning. This marked the eighth missile launched at Israel since March 18, when Israel resumed military actions against Hamas.
Additionally, the Houthis have targeted the USS Harry S. Truman, an aircraft carrier stationed in the Red Sea, and have attacked over 100 commercial vessels near Yemen since November 2023. The ongoing conflict underscores the complex dynamics in the region and the challenges faced by the U.S. and its allies in stabilizing the area.