WEBDESK: A recent US airstrike on Yemen’s Ras Isa fuel port has left at least 38 people dead and more than 100 injured, according to reports from Houthi-controlled media. The strike targeted a vital fuel facility in western Yemen, an area under the control of the Houthi group.
This marks one of the deadliest incidents since the United States increased its military campaign in the region. The US airstrike was reportedly aimed at cutting off a source of fuel for the Houthi militant group. It also wounded 102 people.
“The objective of these strikes was to degrade the economic source of power of the Houthis, who continue to exploit and bring great pain upon their fellow countrymen,” the US Central Command said in a post on X.
According to the U.S. Central Command, the operation was part of ongoing efforts to degrade the Houthis’ ability to threaten international shipping routes and regional security. The US airstrike is seen as a response to continued attacks by Houthi forces in the Red Sea, which have disrupted global trade and posed threats to commercial vessels.
Since November 2023, the Houthis have launched dozens of drone and missile attacks on vessels, saying they were targeting ships linked to Israel in protest over the war in Gaza.
The Ras Isa port has been a crucial fuel supply point for Yemen, and the recent US airstrike is expected to worsen the already dire humanitarian situation in the country. The damage to fuel infrastructure could lead to shortages, higher prices, and further hardship for civilians.
The US airstrike adds to growing fears of escalation in an already unstable region. In March, two days of US attacks killed more than 50 people, Houthi officials said.
The situation remains tense, with further military responses or retaliations feared in the coming days.
