Sanaa: Houthi rebels claim that 26 people were injured and at least six people were killed overnight by U.S. airstrikes near Yemen's rebel-held capital.
The attack occurred near Sanaa, where a ceramics factory in the Bani Matar neighborhood was hit, sparking a large fire that firefighters tried to control. The Houthis released footage showing rescue teams and water-spraying firefighters clearing rubble at the scene.
The intense air campaign, which began nearly a month ago under President Donald Trump, targets Houthi rebel forces over their attacks on shipping in the Middle East waters.
According to casualty figures released by the Houthis’ Health Ministry, more than 120 people have died in the airstrikes since the operation started on March 15. The U.S. military’s Central Command, with authorization from the White House, has conducted over 200 strikes but has not provided details on specific targets.
In addition to the airstrikes, the Houthis claimed that they shot down another American MQ-9 Reaper drone over Hajjah governorate using a locally made missile. This incident marks the fourth drone downing in two weeks, as rebels use their surface-to-air missile systems to target American unmanned aerial vehicles. U.S. Central Command acknowledged reports of the drone being shot down but did not elaborate further.
The U.S. strikes are linked to a broader regional strategy that also aims to pressure Iran over its fast-advancing nuclear program. The Trump administration has stated that the air campaign is necessary to deter further attacks by the rebels, who had previously targeted over 100 merchant vessels and launched unsuccessful attacks on American warships. U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth emphasized that the campaign, while not the preferred approach, would continue if needed to counter what he described as potential nuclear threats from Iran.
