A series of US air strikes on Yemen’s Ras Isa oil port have killed at least 80 people and wounded 150 more, in what Houthi officials say is one of the deadliest American attacks on Yemeni soil.
The strikes, which occurred Thursday, were confirmed by US Central Command (CENTCOM), which said the target was a key source of fuel and revenue for the Iran-backed Houthi rebels. “The objective of these strikes was to degrade the economic source of power of the Houthis,” CENTCOM said in a social media statement.
But the fallout has been severe. According to the Hodeidah Health Office and Houthi-affiliated Al-Masirah television, the dead include port workers, truck drivers, rescue workers, and civilians who were caught off guard when the bombs fell during working hours.
“The first four air raids were waged while the people were working,” said Mohammed al-Attab, an Al Jazeera’s correspondent in Sanaa. “The air raids took employees by surprise.”
Footage aired by Al Masirah shows night-time explosions at the Ras Isa port, followed by rubble, fires, and graphic images of civilian casualties. Additional videos posted online capture burned survivors and destroyed equipment, painting a grim picture of the strike’s aftermath.
The Ras Isa port, which hosts a vital oil pipeline, is a cornerstone of Yemen’s crippled economy and humanitarian infrastructure. According to the United Nations Development Programme, it is “critical and irreplaceable.” An estimated 70 percent of the country’s imports and 80 percent of humanitarian aid pass through Ras Isa and nearby ports in Hodeidah and as-Salif.
Condemnation followed swiftly from across Yemen, including mass protests in the capital. Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree warned that the attack would spark a wave of retaliation. “The American military build-up and continued aggression against our country will only lead to more counter-attacks, clashes, and confrontations,” he told demonstrators.
Soon after the strikes, Houthi forces claimed missile attacks on two US aircraft carriers and sites in Israel. Israel’s military said it intercepted one missile launched from Yemen.
The US operation comes amid escalating tensions in the Red Sea. Since November 2023, the Houthis have launched over 100 attacks on commercial vessels they allege are linked to Israel, in what they frame as support for Palestinians in Gaza. The Biden administration has warned the group that air strikes will persist unless the attacks cease.
This latest escalation is part of the largest US military campaign in the Middle East since President Donald Trump left office. In March, American air raids reportedly killed over 50 people in two days.
Despite the mounting casualties, Houthi officials say US attacks will only harden their resolve.
“The American enemy’s crimes will not deter the Yemeni people from supporting Gaza,” said Mohammed Nasser al-Atifi, a senior Houthi official, “but rather will strengthen their steadfastness and resilience.”
Erizia Rubyjeana
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