Why it matters:
The deadly strike underscores the growing humanitarian toll of U.S. military operations in Yemen amid escalating regional conflicts linked to Israel’s war on Gaza.
The big picture:
Since launching operations on March 15, U.S. forces have conducted over 800 strikes across Yemen, targeting areas controlled by Houthi forces. The strikes come as the Yemeni Army steps up attacks on Israeli and Israel-bound vessels in the Red Sea, claiming solidarity with Palestinians facing a brutal military campaign in Gaza.
What he's saying:
Yemen's Civil Defense Department confirmed the casualties in a statement, noting that the migrant shelter housed around 115 people at the time of the strike. Graphic images broadcast by Yemen’s al-Masirah news network showed scenes of widespread devastation and wounded survivors.
Key points:
- At least 68 migrants were killed and 47 injured in Monday's strike on Saada.
- The shelter housed African migrants, according to Yemen’s Interior Ministry.
- U.S. Central Command acknowledged more than 800 strikes in Yemen since mid-March.
- Yemen’s military has targeted Israeli and Israeli-bound ships in retaliation for Israel’s war on Gaza.
Go deeper:
The growing civilian death toll widens anti-American sentiment across West Asia and intensifies Yemen’s already catastrophic humanitarian crisis.
Hossein Vaez
