At least six people have been killed and thirteen others injured following a fresh wave of United States airstrikes on the outskirts of Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, according to health officials under the Houthi administration.
The strikes, which targeted a ceramic factory in the Bani Matar district, occurred amid a rise in regional tensions and renewed military activity.
Residents in the area reported hearing the roar of US fighter jets across Sanaa before and after the airstrikes took place. The targeted facility was said to have sustained significant damage, with emergency services struggling to reach those affected due to the intensity of the attack.
In addition to the strike on the outskirts of Sanaa, Houthi-aligned television network Al-Masirah reported that two further strikes were carried out in the northern provinces of Marib and Al-Jawf.
According to their report, a total of 25 US airstrikes were conducted across northern Yemen throughout the day, indicating a sharp escalation in military operations by the United States in the region.
The renewed military action comes just hours after the Houthi group claimed responsibility for launching missiles at Israeli targets, including the Sdot Micha military base and Ben Gurion Airport in central Israel, as well as another “vital target” located in the Ashkelon area of southern Israel.
In response, Israel’s military said that a missile launched from Yemen had likely been intercepted before entering Israeli airspace.
The United States resumed its air campaign against Houthi positions on 15 March, aiming to deter the group from continuing its missile and drone attacks on Israeli and American interests. Despite the strikes, the Houthi movement has shown no sign of backing down.
On Saturday, it issued a stern warning against any potential US-led ground operations in Yemen, vowing to retaliate fiercely if such moves were undertaken.
Tensions have been steadily rising in recent weeks between the Houthis, the United States, and Israel, particularly since the Gaza conflict reignited hostilities across the Middle East.
The Houthi group has openly supported the Palestinians and begun targeting Israeli sites from November 2023, claiming their military operations would cease only if Israel ends the war in Gaza and permits the entry of essential humanitarian aid into the besieged territory.
Amid these developments, reports have emerged in local Yemeni media suggesting the United States might be preparing to assist the Yemeni government in launching a ground offensive aimed at retaking Sanaa and other parts of northern Yemen currently under Houthi control.
The Houthis continue to dominate large portions of northern Yemen, where they have built strongholds and remain defiant despite repeated air assaults.
Their involvement in regional conflicts has further complicated the already fragile situation in Yemen, which remains in the grip of one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.
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