Topline
The Houthi militant group in Yemen on Monday alleged that at least 68 migrants from Africa were killed in an overnight U.S. strike on the country hit a migrant detention center in rebel-controlled territory, as U.S. military operations against the Iran-backed militia—which were ordered by President Donald Trump last month—continued.
Yemeni rescuers transport the bodies of victims pulled from the rubble of a building hit by alleged … More
Key Facts
Citing the Houthi-run Al Masirah TV, Reuters reported that 47 people were also injured in the alleged attack on the African migrant detention site in Yemen’s Saada Governorate.
The rebel-run news outlet aired graphic footage of the purported site of the attack, which showed dead bodies and wounded people at the site and the Houthi-run Interior Ministry claimed 115 migrants were being held at the location.
According to the Associated Press, the detained migrants are usually from Ethiopia and other African countries who are trying to enter Saudi Arabia by crossing through Yemen.
On Sunday night, the U.S. military’s Central Command (CENTCOM) issued a statement saying its forces have been conducting “an intense and sustained campaign targeting the Houthi terrorist organization in Yemen” since March 15 and have struck “over 800 targets.”
The statement did not directly mention the alleged strike on rebel-controlled Saada, noting that it has “intentionally limited disclosing details of our ongoing or future operations” for “operational security” reasons.
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Crucial Quote
“These operations have been executed using detailed and comprehensive intelligence ensuring lethal effects against the Houthis while minimizing risk to civilians…These strikes have killed hundreds of Houthi fighters and numerous Houthi leaders, including senior Houthi missile and UAV officials,” CENTCOM said. The statement also noted that the U.S. military “will continue to ratchet up the pressure until the objective is met, which remains the restoration of freedom of navigation and American deterrence in the region.”
