SANAA, Yemen—Yemen’s Houthi movement announced that a U.S. airstrike hit a migrant detention center in the northern province of Saada, resulting in the deaths of at least 68 people. The center was reportedly housing 115 African migrants, according to a statement from the Houthi-run interior ministry cited by al-Masirah TV.
The U.S. military has intensified its operations against the Houthis since March 15 in an effort dubbed “Rough Rider.” The campaign aims to eliminate the group’s threat to vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. The Houthis have launched attacks targeting Israel and Western ships in the Red Sea, actions they describe as solidarity with Palestinians following the conflict that escalated in October 2023.
On the previous day, al-Masirah TV reported that U.S. strikes in the Yemeni capital, Sanaa, killed at least eight people and wounded others. The U.S. military stated it has hit over 800 targets in Yemen since mid-March, claiming hundreds of Houthi fighters’ lives, including members of the group’s leadership. Specific details of these operations remain undisclosed due to “operational security” reasons, but the military emphasized the “lethal effects” on Houthi rebels.
The Houthis, controlling much of northern Yemen, began targeting shipping lanes in late 2023. Their actions have disrupted the passage of ships through the Suez Canal—a crucial route that handles approximately 12 percent of global trade. This disruption has forced many companies to reroute vessels around Africa’s southern tip, leading to increased costs and delays.
The ongoing conflict has heightened humanitarian concerns, especially regarding the safety of civilians and migrants in the region. International observers are calling for restraint and urging all parties to prioritize the protection of non-combatants.
