Houthis Report 68 African Deaths from US Airstrike on Migrant Detention Center

April 28, 2025 TruthUSA

Over the past six weeks, U.S. aircraft have targeted Houthi-controlled regions in Yemen aimed at curbing assaults on a vital maritime route.

A ministry controlled by the Houthis reported on Monday that a U.S. airstrike resulted in the deaths of at least 68 Africans at a migrant detention facility in northern Yemen.

According to the Yemen News Agency (Saba), the civil defense department of the Ministry of Interior provided a statement indicating that the strike in Saada governorate, a stronghold for the Houthis, resulted in at least 68 deaths and 47 injuries among African migrants.

The Epoch Times contacted the U.S. Department of Defense for comment but had not received a reply by the time of publication.

Migrants from Eritrea, Ethiopia, and other African nations often transit through the Bab el-Mandab Strait to reach Yemen en route to the oil-rich Saudi Arabia in search of employment.

Graphic footage aired by the Houthi-controlled Al-Masirah satellite news channel displayed what appeared to be deceased individuals.

The Epoch Times was unable to authenticate the claims or the video evidence.

On March 15, President Donald Trump authorized airstrikes on Houthi-controlled regions in Yemen, pledging to employ “overwhelming lethal force” until the Iran-aligned terrorists cease their assaults on the vital maritime routes.

U.S. aircraft have persistently targeted Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen during the past six weeks under operations labeled Operation Rough Rider.

“Since March 15, U.S. Central Command (USCENTCOM) forces have engaged in an intense and sustained operation aimed at the Houthi terrorist organization in Yemen to restore freedom of navigation and American deterrence,” stated U.S. Central Command in an April 27 release.

“These operations have been executed with extensive intelligence, ensuring lethal outcomes against the Houthis while minimizing civilian risk.”

‘Minimizing Risk to Civilians’

“To maintain operational security, we have purposely limited the disclosure of details regarding our ongoing or future operations. Our operational approach is very deliberate, but we will not disclose specifics about what has occurred or what actions we will take.”

According to the statement, Central Command has targeted over 800 sites since the initiation of Operation Rough Rider, resulting in the deaths of hundreds of Houthi fighters and multiple Houthi leaders, including senior officials in missile and UAV [unmanned aerial vehicle] operations, as per Central Command’s report.

Iran has provided drones and drone technology to its allies within the so-called Axis of Resistance, which includes the Houthis in Yemen and the terrorist group Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Both entities have utilized drones against Israel, although the Houthis have primarily aimed at shipping routes in the Red Sea and the Bab el-Mandab Strait.

In October 2024, Central Command deployed B-2 Spirit stealth bombers to strike underground bunkers in Yemen, which were reportedly used by the Houthis for missile and drone storage.

The Houthi terrorist organization, formally known as Ansar Allah, recruits members from the Shiite Muslim Zaydi community in northern Yemen.

Since 2014, they have controlled the Yemeni capital, Sanaa, and significant areas in north and west Yemen.

On March 4, Ansar Allah was officially designated as a terrorist organization by the U.S. Department of State.

In a statement announcing this designation, the State Department remarked, “Since 2023, the Houthis have orchestrated hundreds of attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, along with assaults on U.S. service members safeguarding freedom of navigation and our regional allies. Recently, the Houthis have spared Chinese-flagged vessels while targeting American and allied ships.”

On April 18, a U.S. strike at the port of Ras Isa led to at least 74 casualties, with 171 others injured.

In its latest statement, Central Command claimed, “U.S. strikes have incapacitated Ras Isa Port’s capability to receive fuel, which will soon affect the Houthis’ operational abilities and their ability to generate millions in revenue for terrorism.”

Last year, the State Department released a report on human trafficking in Yemen, where parts of the country are controlled by the Saudi-backed Republic of Yemen Government (ROYG), which has engaged in a prolonged conflict with the Houthis that was paused in 2022 following a United Nations-brokered ceasefire.

The report noted, “The ongoing insurgency by the Houthis has remained a major hindrance to the ROYG’s efforts to combat all forms of human trafficking, including the recruitment or employment of child soldiers.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Source link