Media outlets affiliated with Yemen’s Houthi rebels reported on Saturday that airstrikes in the northern region of the country resulted in the death of one individual and injuries to several others. According to the Saba news agency and the Al-Masirah television channel, the strikes targeted a solar energy facility in the Hafsin neighborhood, located to the west of the city of Saada, which is recognized as a stronghold of the Houthis.
The reports indicated that the airstrikes comprised four separate attacks on Saada, prompting civil protection teams to respond by extinguishing fires and conducting rescue operations for the victims. This incident is part of an ongoing pattern of strikes in areas controlled by the Houthis, which have been attributed to U.S. military operations since a renewed air campaign against the rebels was initiated on March 15.
The Houthis have claimed retaliatory actions, including attacks on commercial and military shipping, as a response to Israel’s military activities in Gaza. This aligns with their position within the so-called Axis of Resistance, an alliance of Iran-backed groups in the Middle East that opposes the influence of both Israel and the United States in the region.
The allegations of U.S. involvement come close on the heels of a video posted by U.S. President Donald Trump, which purportedly depicted an airstrike that resulted in the deaths of several Houthi fighters. The video, shared on Trump’s Truth Social platform, featured black-and-white footage from military drones, showing various scenes of destruction, including a flash and subsequent smoke from an explosion along with a close-up of a crater left by the strike. Trump claimed that the individuals depicted were planning an attack and declared that the Houthis would “never sink our ships again.”
However, Saba refuted claims that the targeted individuals were fighters, asserting instead that the gathering hit by the airstrike was an Eid celebration marking the conclusion of the Ramadan fasting period. This contradiction underscores the continuing conflict and various narratives emerging from the complex situation in Yemen, reflecting broader regional tensions involving military action and opposing political factions.
