Newsletter Newsletters Events Events Podcasts Videos Africanews
Loader
Advertisement

Suspected US airstrikes kill six in Yemen, Houthi rebels say

Smoke rises after the U.S.-led airstrikes on hit targets in Sanaa, Yemen.
Smoke rises after the U.S.-led airstrikes on hit targets in Sanaa, Yemen. Copyright  AP Photo/Osamah Abdulrahman
Copyright AP Photo/Osamah Abdulrahman
By Abby Chitty with AP
Published on
Share this article Comments
Share this article Close Button
Copy/paste the article video embed link below: Copy to clipboard Copied

The US airstrike campaign, which has been focused on countering rebel attacks on shipping in the region due to the Israel-Hamas conflict, has reportedly claimed at least 79 lives so far, based on casualty reports from the Houthis.

ADVERTISEMENT

US airstrikes reportedly killed at least six people in areas near Yemen's Red Sea port city of Hodeida on Tuesday night, according to the Iran-backed Houthi rebels.

The strikes targeted the al-Hawak district, near the city’s airport, and wounding a further 16 people. The airport has previously been used by the rebels to target ships in the Red Sea.

Footage released by the Houthis' al-Masirah satellite news channel showed scenes of people carrying the injured to ambulances and rescuers using phone lights to search for survivors.

The target appeared to be a residential area, likely part of a broader operation aimed at eliminating rebel leaders. Other strikes reportedly hit Yemen's Amran governorate, located to the north of the Houthi-held capital, Sanaa, damaging telecommunication infrastructure.

US strikes were also reported to have hit Jebel Nuqum near Sanaa, and other locations in Dhamar and Ibb governorates, wounding at least three people.

The US military’s Central Command has not acknowledged the airstrikes, a pattern consistent with the campaign, which began on 15 March with White House authorisation for strikes on a case-by-case basis.

To date, more than 200 strikes have reportedly been carried out. US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth, during a visit by Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, emphasised that the US would not ease its pressure on the Houthis, signalling a prolonged campaign.

The US campaign escalated after the Houthis threatened to resume targeting Israeli ships again, a response to Israel's blockade of aid to Gaza.

The Houthis have previously attacked over 100 merchant vessels, sinking two and killing four sailors between November 2023 and January 2025. The strikes also targeted US warships without success.

Go to accessibility shortcuts
Share this article Comments

Read more

Houthi rebels say overnight US strikes kill at least two people in Yemen's Saada

Airstrikes hit Houthi-controlled sites across Yemen, injuring seven

US war plans for Yemen leaked to journalist in Signal group chat