Sana'a: In a coordinated military operation, British and American forces carried out an airstrike in Yemen on Tuesday, targeting a Houthi-controlled site believed to be involved in the production of drones used in recent attacks on international shipping routes.
The UK Ministry of Defence confirmed the strike, stating it aimed at a cluster of buildings approximately 24 kilometers south of Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, identified through intelligence as a drone manufacturing site.
The UK emphasized the operation took place at night to minimize the risk to civilians and reported that all aircraft returned safely. However, the US military has not yet issued an official statement on the mission.
The strike comes as part of a broader campaign ordered by President Donald Trump, who escalated US military actions against the Iran-aligned Houthi rebels last month in response to continued assaults on vessels in the Red Sea. Both countries have carried out joint actions in the region in the past.
Meanwhile, Houthi-controlled media reported a separate US airstrike on Monday that allegedly killed 68 people at a detention center housing African migrants. A US defense official acknowledged the reports and said an investigation is underway to assess civilian casualties.
Recent US operations have reportedly resulted in high casualties, including a mid-April strike that killed 74 people at an oil terminal—the deadliest under Trump’s current campaign, according to Houthi health authorities. The US military claims to have hit over 800 targets since mid-March, destroying Houthi infrastructure and killing numerous fighters and commanders.
The Houthis have held significant territory in Yemen for nearly a decade and began targeting ships in the Red Sea in November 2023, citing support for Palestinians amid the Israel-Gaza conflict. The conflict reignited in October 2023 following a deadly Hamas attack on Israel, prompting a war in Gaza that has since claimed over 52,000 lives, according to Gaza’s health ministry. Israel denies accusations of genocide and war crimes.
