Quick Read
- US airstrike in Yemen reportedly kills 68 African migrants.
- Houthi-run media claims 47 others were injured in the attack.
- The detention center in Saada was holding 115 migrants at the time.
- US military has not yet commented on the allegations.
- The strike follows intensified US air campaign against Houthis.
US Strike in Yemen Kills Dozens of African Migrants, Houthis Claim
A US airstrike in Yemen has reportedly killed at least 68 African migrants and injured 47 others, according to Houthi-run media. The attack targeted a detention center in Saada province, a Houthi-controlled region in north-western Yemen. The facility was reportedly holding 115 migrants at the time of the strike, which occurred shortly before 05:00 local time (02:00 GMT) on Monday.
Details of the Attack
Al Masirah, a Houthi-affiliated TV channel, released graphic footage showing multiple bodies covered in rubble and first responders recovering victims from the debris. The channel reported that the detention center was hit four times, causing significant destruction. Most of the injured were said to be in critical condition. The casualty figures could not be independently verified, but the footage provided by Al Masirah appeared to corroborate the claims.
US Military Response
The US military has not yet commented on the specific allegations regarding the strike. However, the incident occurred hours after US Central Command (Centcom) announced that its forces had conducted over 800 strikes since President Donald Trump ordered an intensification of the air campaign against the Houthis on 15 March. Centcom stated that the strikes had killed hundreds of Houthi fighters and several senior officials overseeing missile and drone programs.
Houthi Condemnation
The Houthi-run interior ministry condemned the attack, calling it a ‘deliberate bombing’ and a ‘war crime.’ The ministry emphasized that the detention center was in an open area and not near any military base. The UN’s International Organisation for Migration (IOM) expressed deep sadness over the reports of civilian casualties and called on all parties to prioritize the protection of civilians and adhere to international humanitarian law.
Background on Migrants in Yemen
Yemen has long been a transit route for African migrants seeking work in Saudi Arabia. Many of these migrants come from Ethiopia and Somalia, fleeing political instability, economic hardship, and extreme weather conditions in their home countries. However, upon arrival in Yemen, they often face exploitation, detention, and violence. The IOM estimates that nearly 60,900 migrants arrived in Yemen in 2024 alone, with thousands held in detention centers like the one in Saada.
Previous Incidents
This is not the first time a detention center in Saada has been targeted. In 2022, a Saudi-led coalition strike on a nearby facility killed 66 people and injured 113 others. The UN later criticized the coalition for attacking a known detention center. The recent US strike has reignited concerns about civilian casualties in Yemen’s ongoing conflict, which has already caused significant humanitarian suffering.
International Reactions
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) confirmed that Yemen Red Crescent Society teams provided lifesaving support by evacuating the wounded to hospitals. Meanwhile, the Houthis have increasingly sought to control the flow of information from the territory they hold to the outside world. It issued a notice Sunday that all those holding Starlink satellite internet receivers should ‘quickly hand over’ the devices to authorities. ‘A field campaign will be implemented in coordination with the security authorities to arrest anyone who sells, trades, uses, operates, installs or possesses these prohibited terminals,’ the Houthis warned. Starlink terminals have been crucial for Ukraine in fighting Russia’s full-scale invasion and receivers also have been smuggled into Iran amid unrest there.
The US strike in Yemen has drawn widespread condemnation and raised questions about the targeting of civilian facilities in the ongoing conflict. As the situation continues to unfold, international organizations are calling for accountability and adherence to international humanitarian law to prevent further loss of civilian lives.