Saada, Yemen — At least 68 African migrants were reportedly killed in a US airstrike on a detention facility controlled by Houthi rebels in northwestern Yemen. The Houthi-run media outlet Al Masirah claimed that an additional 47 individuals sustained injuries, many of them critically, as rescue efforts revealed bodies amidst the debris of the demolished structure.
While the US military has not issued an immediate response to the incident, the strike comes in the wake of a recent announcement from US Central Command, indicating that its forces had targeted over 800 sites since mid-March. This escalation is part of a renewed air campaign aimed at the Houthis, following directives from President Donald Trump. Central Command emphasized that the strikes have resulted in significant losses among Houthi fighters, including key figures in their military operations.
Reports indicated that the detention center housed approximately 115 migrants on the night of the airstrike. Despite the ongoing humanitarian crisis triggered by more than a decade of conflict in Yemen, migrants continue to attempt perilous crossings into the country from the Horn of Africa in hopes of reaching Saudi Arabia for work opportunities. Instead, they often encounter exploitation and violence, as well as confinement in detention centers like the one struck in Saada, which are marred by dire living conditions.
The International Organization for Migration noted that nearly 60,900 migrants had arrived in Yemen in 2024 alone, many arriving with little more than the clothes on their backs. The situation has exacerbated an already dire humanitarian landscape, where millions face acute shortages of food, water, and medical care.
Earlier this month, the Houthis asserted that US airstrikes on the Ras Isa oil terminal resulted in at least 74 fatalities and over 170 injuries, labeling the attack a “war crime.” The US countered that these strikes were necessary to curtail the Houthis’ capabilities and hinder their revenue streams associated with military activities.
Tensions escalated when President Trump ordered extensive military action against Houthi positions, declaring that they would face “complete annihilation” if hostilities continued. He has also publicly warned Iran against supplying arms to the Houthis, despite Tehran consistently denying such activities.
Central Command reiterated its commitment to intensifying military pressure, aiming to secure freedom of navigation in strategic waterways and bolster US deterrence in the region. Since November 2023, the Houthis have mounted several attacks on commercial vessels, sinking two ships and seizing another, leading to the deaths of several crew members.
In justifying their military actions, the Houthis have claimed to support the Palestinian cause amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, though they have often misrepresented the targets of their attacks. The international community remains on alert, as the situation continues to evolve with no immediate end in sight.
The civil war, now in its tenth year, has tragically claimed over 150,000 lives and dislocated millions. The humanitarian crisis has drawn calls for renewed diplomatic engagement, yet any hopeful resolutions seem distant as armed clashes and airstrikes persist, exacerbating the suffering of millions in Yemen.