Sana’a, Yemen – The death toll from recent US airstrikes on an oil port in western Yemen has climbed to at least 74 individuals. The Houthi-run health ministry reported this tragic incident, marking it as the deadliest day since the United States escalated its aerial campaign against the Iran-backed group a month ago. US Central Command has justified these strikes on the Ras Isa fuel port in Hodeidah province as an attempt to cut off revenue to the Houthis, who have allegedly been profiting illicitly from the port.
Central Command stated that the primary objective of these airstrikes was to weaken the economic power of the Houthis, who have been causing significant harm to their fellow countrymen. This move was asserted to not have been aimed at harming the people of Yemen. The fatalities resulting from the strikes included both port workers and paramedics, with around 171 people reported to have been wounded.
Expressing defiance, the Houthi rebels have pledged to persist with their military operations against Israel and US forces in the region. They have affirmed Yemen’s unwavering support for the Palestinian people until the cessation of Israeli aggression on Gaza and the lifting of the siege. Urging retaliation, the Houthis have condemned the US aggression, warning that it will only lead to further targeting, engagement, and confrontation in the region.
The escalating tensions have seen the US and Houthi conflicts intensify, with the Houthis successfully downing a US MQ-9 Reaper drone, the sixth such incident since early March. Each of these drones, costing around $30 million, is a significant loss for the US military, which has just over 200 of these sophisticated drones in its possession. The deadly airstrikes on Houthi targets in Yemen have been ongoing since mid-March, with President Donald Trump vowing to utilize overwhelming force until the Houthis cease targeting shipping in the Red Sea.
Witnesses have described the devastating aftermath of the airstrikes, with videos showing the injured receiving treatment at hospitals in the region. The dire situation has raised concerns globally, with the Houthis’ military and political leadership largely intact despite significant losses among lower-ranking military officers. Meanwhile, the conflict has also led to tragic casualties among civilians in Yemen, further exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in the war-torn nation.