US Military Strikes on Yemen's Detention Centre and Sanaa Kill Dozens

World

United States military airstrikes on a migrant detention center in Saada and the capital, Sanaa, have resulted in significant casualties, with dozens of people killed and many more injured, according to Houthi-affiliated media reports.

At least 68 individuals were reported dead following an overnight strike on a migrant detention center, where detained African migrants were held, while eight others were killed in an airstrike on the Bani al-Harith district north of Sanaa, according to Al Masirah TV, a Houthi-run news channel. The attacks have raised alarm among human rights advocates about the growing civilian toll in Yemen’s ongoing conflict.

In response to the US strikes, the Houthis vowed to continue their military actions, claiming they had targeted a US aircraft carrier, the USS Harry S Truman, and its accompanying warships in the Red Sea. Houthi military officials reported launching a series of cruise and ballistic missiles as well as drones at US naval assets, forcing the carrier to retreat to a more northern position in the Red Sea.

The Houthis have further threatened to continue targeting US vessels in the Red and Arabian Seas until the US aggression against Yemen ceases. The Houthi-controlled Sanaa government framed these missile attacks as retaliation for the US military's actions in Yemen since mid-March, when the US re-engaged in airstrikes, reportedly carrying out more than 800 attacks on Yemeni targets.

The US Central Command (CENTCOM) has acknowledged its military actions in Yemen, though it declined to provide further specifics on the details of the recent strikes. Since March, over 250 people have reportedly been killed in these operations.

The escalation of violence has sparked a broader humanitarian crisis, with civilian casualties mounting. Rights groups have expressed concern over the increasing risk to non-combatants, with three US Democratic senators calling on the Pentagon to address civilian losses and accountability.

The United Nations echoed these concerns, with spokesperson Stephane Dujarric urging all parties to adhere to international humanitarian law, particularly regarding the protection of civilians. "Strikes pose a growing risk to the civilian population in Yemen," Dujarric stated on Monday, urging all parties to protect innocent lives.