Houthi Claims Civilian Casualties from US Strikes
Iran-backed Houthi rebels announced that a series of U.S. airstrikes targeting areas under their control, including the Yemeni capital of Sanaa, resulted in at least eight injuries on Saturday, April 27, 2025. According to the Houthi-run news agency, Saba, the victims included two children. The health ministry of the Houthi administration promptly released these preliminary figures following the strikes, which specifically hit a residential area located west of Al-Rawda in Sanaa. Eyewitnesses and an AFP correspondent in the city reported hearing multiple explosions during the attacks.
The rebels also claimed that U.S. strikes occurred in their stronghold of Saada in northern Yemen, as well as at the fuel port of Ras Issa in the Hodeida region. Just a week prior, they had reported approximately 80 fatalities due to airstrikes in these areas. The Houthis regard themselves as part of Iran’s “axis of resistance” against perceived adversaries, including Israel and the United States. Recently, they claimed to have launched missiles and drones toward Israel, which in turn intercepted one missile and one drone that were purportedly fired from Yemen.
Escalation of US Military Operations Against Houthis
Since January 2024, the United States military has actively targeted Houthi positions, categorizing them as “Iran-backed terrorist forces” in an effort to disrupt their cross-border assaults. This campaign has escalated in intensity, particularly under the current administration, with operations reportedly conducted almost daily over the past month. The objective has been clear: to diminish the Houthis’ capabilities and reduce their threats to U.S. interests in the region.
The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) has released footage of significant military operations, highlighting the involvement of aircraft carriers such as the Harry S. Truman and Carl Vinson. This visual evidence underscores the scale of the U.S. military response and its commitment to combating the Houthi influence in Yemen, reinforcing the ongoing tensions in the region and the broader geopolitical struggle involving Iran.
