Sanaa: United States air strikes have hit more than 40 locations across Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen, including in the capital, Sanaa, according to local media affiliated with the rebel group.
The attacks, which occurred before dawn on Friday, damaged multiple residential homes and shops in the provinces of Saada, Marib, al-Jawf, and Hodeidah.
In addition to these targets, the strikes reportedly hit the Sanaa International Airport and military installations in the mountainous terrain north of Sanaa in Amran. At least seven people were injured in these air strikes, and communication networks were reportedly disrupted following the attacks.
The new campaign of US air strikes comes after the Houthis threatened to resume targeting ships in the Red Sea over Israel’s blockade of aid to Gaza, a measure that has sparked widespread criticism. Although the US military’s Central Command, which now has authority to conduct offensive operations in Yemen without pre-approval, has not immediately acknowledged the raids, the Houthi-linked Al Masirah broadcaster claims that the strikes have already resulted in at least 57 deaths.
The conflict in Yemen has intensified in recent months, with the Iran-aligned Houthis launching more than 100 attacks on shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden since November 2023, as a show of solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.
During this period, the Houthis sank two vessels, seized another, and killed at least four seafarers, forcing global shipping companies to alter their routes. The Houthis have also carried out missile and drone attacks on Israel, causing damage to buildings and even a school in Tel Aviv.
Meanwhile, UN Special Envoy to Yemen Hans Grundberg stressed the urgent need for peace during a visit to Brussels, warning that a full-scale war in Yemen would have severe consequences for the entire region. He emphasized that diplomacy and unified international action are essential to achieve a sustainable solution for the Yemeni people.
This series of air strikes and escalating tensions comes as the conflict in Yemen continues to cause widespread disruption, deepening an already dire humanitarian crisis in the country.
