Iran-backed Houthi rebels reported on Saturday that a series of U.S. strikes on territory under their control, including the Yemeni capital Sanaa, had resulted in at least eight injuries. This information was provided by the Houthi-run Saba news agency, which stated that among the wounded were two children.
The Houthi health ministry cited the incident as part of a provisional toll, indicating that the situation might evolve. An AFP correspondent in Sanaa confirmed hearing explosions in the vicinity on the same day.
In addition to Sanaa, the Houthis reported strikes in other regions of Yemen, including their stronghold of Saada in the north. They also claimed that the fuel port of Ras Issa in the western Hodeida region had been targeted. The Houthis noted that this port had suffered attacks just over a week prior, claiming that 80 people had been killed in those strikes.
The Houthis, aligned with Iran’s “axis of resistance” against Israel and the United States, position themselves as defenders of Gaza amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict. They have frequently launched missiles and drones targeting Israel, along with cargo vessels in the vital Red Sea trade route.
The U.S. military has been active since January 2024, conducting air strikes on Houthi positions, which they label as targeting “Iran-backed Houthi terrorists” in an effort to curb these attacks. Since the tenure of former President Donald Trump, U.S. strikes have reportedly escalated, with near-daily actions noted over the previous month.
On the same Saturday, the Houthis declared they had launched a missile and two drones towards Israel. The Israeli army confirmed intercepting a missile from Yemen and a drone coming from the east. Additionally, CENTCOM, the U.S. military command overseeing the region, released footage showing operations from U.S. aircraft carriers Harry S. Truman and Carl Vinson conducting strikes against the Houthis.
