US airstrikes hit Yemen's capital overnight killing one, Houthis say

Suspected US airstrikes targeted areas around Yemen’s rebel-controlled capital overnight into Monday morning, with the Iranian-backed Houthis reporting at least one fatality.

The full scale of the damage and any additional casualties was not immediately clear. The strikes followed a night of intense airstrikes on Friday, which appeared more severe than others in the ongoing campaign that began on March 15.

The airstrikes around Sanaa, Yemen’s capital, held by the Houthis since 2014, also left four people injured, according to the rebels. Their al-Masirah satellite news channel broadcast footage showing shattered glass scattered across homes after the blast from the bombs, although the targets of the attacks were not shown, implying that they were military or intelligence sites.

An Associated Press review suggests that the current US operation against the Houthis under President Donald Trump is more extensive than those under former President Joe Biden, as the US now targets both launch sites and senior personnel, in addition to dropping bombs in cities.

This latest series of airstrikes, which the Houthis claim has killed at least 59 people, began after the rebels threatened to resume targeting “Israeli” ships in retaliation for Israel blocking aid to the Gaza Strip. The Houthis have previously defined "Israeli" ships loosely, meaning other vessels might be targeted.

Between November 2023 and January this year, the Houthis attacked more than 100 merchant vessels with missiles and drones, sinking two ships and killing four sailors. They also launched attacks on American warships, although none have been hit so far.

These attacks have significantly raised the Houthis' profile as they face economic struggles and have cracked down on dissent and aid workers within Yemen, amidst a decade-long war that has devastated the Arab world's poorest nation.