yemen-struck-by-22-fresh-us-led-air-raids

The United States military carried out 22 airstrikes targeting various Houthi sites across northern Yemen on Tuesday, according to the Houthi-run al-Masirah TV and local residents.

 

The airstrikes struck areas to the east and south of the capital, Sanaa, the Island of Kamaran in the Red Sea, as well as regions both north and south of the oil-rich Marib province. No casualties have been officially reported so far.

 

Local residents described the attacks as extremely powerful and intense.

 

This latest series of airstrikes followed a previous US assault on Sunday night, which reportedly killed four children and injured 25 others in Sanaa.

 

According to Xinhua news agency, the United States resumed its air campaign against the Houthis on 15 March, aiming to deter the group from targeting Israeli-linked vessels following the collapse of the Gaza ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas.

 

The Houthis have repeatedly claimed that their actions are in response to US airstrikes in Yemen. They assert their operations are intended to pressure the United States and Israel to halt military action in Gaza and to allow humanitarian aid into the blockaded Palestinian enclave.

 

The strikes come after the Houthi group claimed responsibility for a drone attack on a military target in Tel Aviv and for firing cruise missiles at two US warships in the Red Sea.

 

“We carried out an operation against a military target in Tel Aviv, using a Jaffa drone,” said Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Sarea, in a televised address aired on al-Masirah TV.

 

“Our naval and air forces also conducted a joint military operation targeting two US destroyers in the Red Sea with several cruise missiles and drones,” he added.

 

Sarea stated that the attacks on US warships were carried out “in response to the ongoing US aggression and crimes against the Yemeni people,” referring to Sunday night’s airstrikes on a house in Sanaa, which reportedly killed at least four people and wounded more than 20 others, including 11 women and children.

 

He emphasised that the US strikes would not deter the group’s support for the Palestinian people. He vowed that Houthi operations would continue until Israel halts its military campaign in Gaza and lifts the ongoing blockade of the territory.