Photo credit: www.yahoo.com
US Air Strikes Intensify Against Houthi Rebels in Yemen
Recent airstrikes conducted by the United States in Yemen have reportedly resulted in the deaths of at least two individuals in an area known as a stronghold for the Houthi rebel group. This information comes from Houthi sources and suggests that the death toll may be higher than officially acknowledged.
The strikes, which took place in Saada, also left four others injured. Video footage broadcasted by the Houthis’ al-Masirah news network showed a two-storey building collapsing as a result of a strike, which was characterized by the group as a solar power shop. However, no inside footage was provided to substantiate their claims about the building’s purpose.
As the air assault continues, reports indicate that at least 69 fatalities have occurred since the new campaign began under the Trump administration, targeting Houthi forces responding to threats against maritime safety in the region linked to the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict.
Interestingly, the Houthis have not reported casualties among their security and military leaders, a point which became contentious following the release of a video by President Trump. This video featured what appears to be drone footage showing a group of individuals gathered together, followed by an explosion.
In Trump’s post accompanying the video, he claimed that these individuals were preparing for an attack and concluded with a statement indicating the Houthis would no longer pose a threat to maritime navigation, without providing additional details regarding the location or specifics of the strike.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Central Command, responsible for overseeing military actions in the Middle East, has not shared this video or detailed the operational specifics of the strikes since mid-March. The White House has announced that over 200 airstrikes have targeted Houthi forces up to this point.
Reports from the Houthi-controlled Saba news agency described the recent airstrikes as targeting a social gathering in Hodeida during the Eid al-Fitr festivities, which Muslims recently celebrated, marking the conclusion of Ramadan.
Saba published images of commanders engaging with fighters during the holiday, but did not showcase any high-ranking Houthi officials. The reports contended that those present were not involved in Houthi military operations, which are aimed at obstructing navigation linked to what they term the American and Israeli adversaries.
Following the airstrikes, sources suggest that a colonel affiliated with the Houthis in Hodeida, along with several of his brothers, was killed—a fact corroborated by social media tributes.
According to Mohammed al-Basha, a Yemen expert at the Basha Report, the U.S. military’s airstrike strategy appears to have shifted dramatically, now targeting high-ranking personnel and expanding strikes across multiple governorates, including key locations such as telecommunications infrastructures and crucial Houthi command centers.
An analysis conducted by the Associated Press suggests this current wave of U.S. military action is more comprehensive compared to operations carried out during the Biden administration, shifting focus from merely targeting missile launch sites to conducting strikes against specific leadership and urban areas.
These hostilities emerged largely as a response to Houthi threats to resume attacks on vessels linked to Israel, compounded by the rebels’ vague definitions of what constitutes an “Israeli” ship, suggesting a broader range of potential targets.
Since November 2023, the Houthis have reportedly targeted over 100 merchant vessels, claiming to have sunk two and resulting in the deaths of four sailors. Additionally, failed attempts to strike U.S. warships have also been documented.
This surge in military activity has dramatically elevated the profile of the Houthis, who, despite facing severe economic challenges and an oppressive internal crackdown on dissent during the long-standing conflict, are now attempting to leverage their military capabilities within the regional landscape.
The ongoing airstrike campaign reflects the Trump administration’s broader strategy to connect these military efforts to diplomatic pressure on Iran, amid concerns regarding its advancing nuclear ambitions.
Source
www.yahoo.com