Dozens of African Migrants Killed in US Air Strike on Yemen Detention Center, Houthis Say
At least 68 African migrants have died and 47 more were critically injured after a US air strike hit a detention center in Houthi-controlled Saada province, north-western Yemen, according to Houthi-run media outlet Al Masirah.
The channel released graphic footage showing rubble and multiple casualties at the site, which was reportedly housing 115 migrants. The US military has not yet commented on the incident.
The strike occurred shortly after US Central Command (Centcom) reported targeting over 800 locations since President Donald Trump intensified operations against the Houthis on 15 March. Centcom stated these attacks killed hundreds of Houthi fighters and senior commanders, especially those overseeing missile and drone programs.
While the Houthis claim the air strikes have killed many civilians, US statements have emphasized the focus on military targets.
Migrant Tragedy Amid Escalating Conflict
Despite Yemen’s prolonged humanitarian crisis from more than a decade of civil war, thousands of migrants from the Horn of Africa continue to arrive, aiming to reach Saudi Arabia for work. Many find themselves trapped, facing exploitation, violence, and dire conditions, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM). In 2024 alone, almost 60,900 migrants arrived in Yemen.
The detention center attack mirrors earlier deadly strikes, including an April bombardment on the Ras Isa oil terminal, which Houthis say killed at least 74 people. The US justified that attack by citing its goal to disrupt Houthi funding and operational capabilities.
Renewed Pressure on Houthis
Centcom has vowed to maintain pressure until its objective of restoring secure navigation and American deterrence in the Red Sea region is achieved. Since late 2023, the Houthis have launched numerous attacks on commercial vessels, resulting in two ship sinkings and four deaths. Although the Houthis claim to target Israeli, American, or British-linked ships in solidarity with Palestinians, many attacks have involved unrelated vessels.
After reentering office in January, Trump reclassified the Houthis as a “Foreign Terrorist Organization,” reversing a Biden-era decision aimed at easing Yemen’s humanitarian suffering.
A Country in Crisis
The Yemeni civil war has devastated the nation, leaving over 150,000 dead, 4.8 million displaced, and nearly 20 million people in need of humanitarian aid. The Houthis seized much of the country’s north-west over a decade ago, prompting intervention from a Saudi-led coalition backed by the United States.
