The United States has once again launched multiple airstrikes on Yemen's capital, Sanaa. According to local media outlets controlled by Houthi rebels, these attacks have claimed the lives of at least 78 people, including women and children.
A report from Al Jazeera on Monday stated that the airstrikes began late on Sunday, April 27. In the early morning hours, at least eight people, including women and children, were killed in the northern district of Bani Al-Harith in Sanaa, according to Al-Masirah TV.
Earlier reports indicated that two individuals were killed in US airstrikes targeting the Amran and Saada regions.
In another report, Al-Masirah TV claimed that US forces struck an immigration detention centre in Saada, resulting in at least 68 deaths. The centre had been holding nearly 100 people, mostly migrants from Ethiopia and other African nations, who were attempting to transit through Yemen on their way to Saudi Arabia in search of employment.
The Houthi rebels have been accused of profiting from facilitating the migration of people across the border. However, migrants face significant risks, including long periods of conflict, detention, and mistreatment while trying to use this route.
Meanwhile, the US Central Command, which oversees military operations in the Middle East, has not disclosed specific details about the recent attacks but has confirmed that over 800 targets in Yemen have been struck since mid-March. According to Houthi officials, more than 250 people have been killed in the ongoing US campaign, which has seen daily bombings since mid-March.
The US military maintains that the strikes are aimed at countering Houthi threats in the Red Sea shipping lanes and protecting Israel. In contrast, the Houthis argue that their attacks on Israeli-linked vessels are retaliatory actions in response to Israeli aggression in Gaza.
Another key factor in the rise of US airstrikes against the Houthis is Iran. The US is applying pressure on Iran, particularly regarding the nuclear deal, and as part of this effort, it has been conducting regular operations to suppress Iranian-backed Houthi forces in the region.
