Migrant Tragedy in Yemen: U.S. Airstrike Sparks Global Alarm Amid Rising Tensions

Yemen’s Houthi rebels have accused the United States of launching an airstrike on a migrant detention facility in Saada province, killing at least 68 people and wounding 47 others. The prison was reportedly holding 115 African migrants, primarily from Ethiopia, who had been detained while attempting to cross Yemen in hopes of reaching Saudi Arabia for work. The U.S. military has not confirmed the incident but acknowledged awareness of the civilian casualty claims.

Graphic footage aired by Houthi media showed bodies and bloodied survivors amid rubble, with signs of a powerful explosion. A soft voice in the background recited an Islamic prayer, as medics rushed to aid the injured. The Houthi-run Civil Defense and Interior Ministry confirmed the death toll and the number of detainees at the site. The Associated Press analyzed the footage and found consistent evidence of a blast and debris impact on concrete walls.

The attack has reignited criticism of the U.S. campaign in Yemen, dubbed “Operation Rough Rider,” which aims to neutralize Houthi military capabilities. While defending the air campaign’s secrecy, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) emphasized that operational security requires withholding specifics of past and future operations. Controversy has swirled in the U.S. as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reportedly used the unclassified messaging app Signal to share sensitive details.

African migrants crossing Yemen, particularly Ethiopians, face extraordinary danger. Many are exploited or killed along the journey, often falling victim to smuggling networks or regional violence. A 2022 UN letter accused Saudi security forces of killing and injuring hundreds of migrants with gunfire and shelling. Saudi Arabia denied the allegations, while human rights groups continue to press for accountability.

The incident mirrors a similar tragedy in 2022 when a Saudi-led coalition airstrike hit the same detention center, killing 66 and injuring over 100. The UN later reported that 16 detainees were executed by the Houthis while attempting to flee. Despite the coalition’s justification that drones were being launched from the site, the UN insisted it was clearly marked as a detention facility and should have been protected.

In a broader military context, CENTCOM reported over 800 airstrikes have been carried out during the past month. The command claimed to have killed hundreds of Houthi fighters and several high-ranking officials involved in missile and drone programs. The U.S. justifies its ongoing operations as necessary to protect Red Sea shipping lanes and deter further Houthi aggression, which is seen as heavily backed by Iran.

American military strikes are being conducted from two aircraft carriers stationed in the region—the USS Harry S. Truman in the Red Sea and the USS Carl Vinson in the Arabian Sea. One of the deadliest attacks of the campaign occurred on April 18, when a U.S. strike on the Ras Isa fuel port killed 74 people and injured 171. CENTCOM defended the operation, stating it crippled the Houthis’ ability to import fuel and fund military activities.

Meanwhile, the Houthis have intensified efforts to control information flow within their territory. On Sunday, they issued a directive ordering the surrender of all Starlink satellite internet receivers, warning that anyone caught using or distributing them would be arrested. These terminals, which have played a key role in conflict zones like Ukraine and Iran, are now seen as a threat to the Houthis’ grip on information.