Suspected US air strikes near Yemen’s rebel-held capital killed at least six people and injured 26 overnight, according to the Houthis. The rebels also claimed responsibility for shooting down another American MQ-9 Reaper drone.
Since the start of the US air campaign nearly a month ago, more than 120 people have been killed, the Houthis’ Health Ministry reported on Monday. The air strikes, which are part of an intense operation under President Donald Trump, target the Houthis in retaliation for their attacks on shipping in the Middle East. These attacks are related to the ongoing Israel-Gaza war.
Footage from the Houthis’ al-Masirah satellite news channel showed firefighters battling a large fire caused by the air strikes. Rescuers were seen carrying an injured person from what the rebels identified as a ceramics factory in the Bani Matar neighborhood of Sanaa.
The US military’s Central Command, which oversees American operations, did not confirm the air strikes. This follows a pattern of silence, as the US now has authorization from the White House to carry out strikes at will in this campaign, which began on March 15. The White House has said more than 200 strikes have occurred so far, but details about specific targets have not been shared.
The Houthis also claimed on Sunday night that they shot down an MQ-9 Reaper drone in Yemen’s Hajjah governorate, located on the Red Sea near the Saudi Arabian border. Brigadier General Yahya Saree, a Houthi military spokesman, said the drone was hit with a “locally manufactured missile.” The rebels have surface-to-air missiles, including the Iranian-made 358, which are capable of shooting down aircraft.
Iran has denied arming the Houthis, but evidence of Tehran-manufactured weapons has been found in Yemen and in sea shipments headed for the rebels, despite a UN arms embargo.
The MQ-9 Reaper drones, valued at about $30 million each, can fly at altitudes above 40,000 feet and stay in the air for over 30 hours. These drones have been used by the US military and the CIA in operations over Afghanistan, Iraq, and now Yemen.
While the US Central Command acknowledged “reports” of the drone being shot down, they did not provide further details.
The current US operation against the Houthis seems to be more extensive than the one under former President Joe Biden. The new approach includes targeting high-ranking personnel and bombing cities, whereas previous strikes mostly targeted launch sites. This shift in strategy followed the Houthis’ threats to target “Israeli” ships again after Israel blocked aid entering the Gaza Strip. The Houthis have not clearly defined which ships they consider “Israeli,” raising the risk for many vessels in the region.
From November 2023 to January of this year, the Houthis targeted over 100 merchant vessels with missiles and drones. They sank two ships and killed four sailors. The rebels also launched unsuccessful attacks on American warships.
The US air strikes show no signs of slowing down, and the Trump administration has tied this campaign to efforts to pressure Iran over its advancing nuclear program.
