Deadly Strike in Yemen Sparks Outrage Over Migrant Casualties and U.S. Air Campaign

In a tragic escalation of Yemen’s long-running conflict, Houthi rebels claimed that a U.S. airstrike on Monday struck a detention center in Saada province, killing at least 68 African migrants and injuring 47 more. The victims were reportedly among a group of 115 detained individuals. The U.S. military has not confirmed the attack, but CENTCOM acknowledged awareness of civilian casualty allegations and has launched an inquiry. The alleged strike is part of “Operation Rough Rider,” an ongoing U.S. air campaign targeting Houthi forces.

The strike has drawn widespread criticism due to the high number of migrant casualties and echoes a deadly 2022 Saudi-led coalition attack on the same facility. In that previous incident, 66 people were killed and over 100 injured, prompting the United Nations to criticize the targeting of known detention centers. Monday’s incident raises fresh concerns among humanitarian organizations about the safety of migrants transiting through Yemen and the conduct of foreign military operations in the region.

Graphic images broadcast by Houthi-run al-Masirah TV showed bodies and injured individuals amidst shattered debris and damaged cement walls. The visuals, analyzed by the Associated Press, confirmed signs of an explosion, and the emotional tone of the footage was underscored by a woman praying softly while medics assisted survivors. As Houthi officials reported the death toll, international observers expressed alarm at the continued toll on civilians in the war-torn country.

African migrants, especially from Ethiopia, have long used Yemen as a corridor to reach Saudi Arabia in hopes of employment. However, they often face exploitation, violence, and even death during their journey. The Houthis are accused of profiting from smuggling operations, while Saudi forces have been implicated in past killings of migrants. A 2022 UN letter alleged Saudi shelling and gunfire led to hundreds of migrant deaths, though the kingdom has denied such claims.

The U.S. Central Command has defended its policy of secrecy surrounding airstrikes, citing operational security. Officials emphasized that while operations are deliberate, specifics are withheld to maintain military advantage. Nonetheless, the use of private messaging apps like Signal by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to communicate strike details has fueled controversy and criticism over transparency and accountability in the campaign.

Beyond the prison attack, the Houthis reported that U.S. airstrikes also struck the Yemeni capital overnight, killing at least eight people. CENTCOM stated that over 800 strikes have been carried out in the monthlong campaign, with hundreds of Houthi fighters and several leaders killed. The strikes are part of efforts to counter Houthi missile and drone programs and to restore maritime security in the Red Sea, which the Houthis have repeatedly targeted.

In a broader context, the Houthis are seen as a vital arm of Iran’s “Axis of Resistance,” with the capacity to attack Israel and disrupt international shipping. The U.S. is leveraging assets like the USS Harry S. Truman and USS Carl Vinson to strike from both the Red and Arabian Seas. Meanwhile, the Houthis have intensified their information control efforts, threatening to arrest anyone found using Starlink internet terminals in their territory, highlighting the growing digital censorship within rebel-held areas.