Yemen’s Houthi rebels have reported casualties following what they allege was a U.S. airstrike targeting a communications tower. According to Houthi officials, the strike, which occurred on Thursday, resulted in the death of a guard identified as Abdulwasim Abdulwahab Zahir. The Houthi health ministry spokesman, Anees Alasbahi, made the claim via social media, blaming what he termed “American aggression” for the incident in Ibb governorate.
Additionally, Houthi media outlet Al-Masirah has reported that more than 20 strikes were conducted in Saada province, known as the rebels’ stronghold in the northern mountainous region of Yemen. The outlet also mentioned that U.S. forces performed two strikes on vehicles, one located south of the rebel-controlled capital, Sanaa, and another within Saada itself.
The escalation of hostilities comes as Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree announced that the group managed to shoot down an “American MQ-9 drone” that was allegedly on a “hostile mission” in Hodeida province, positioned along the Red Sea coast. Houthi reports also indicated that five individuals were killed in two separate rounds of strikes on Wednesday in Hodeida province, with one of the casualties occurring at the Red Sea port of Ras Issa. However, maritime security firm Ambrey has since reported that the U.S. did not specifically target the port city, labeling the Houthi claim as false. Ambrey noted that no damage to port infrastructure or merchant vessels had been reported from the incident.
Since the start of a renewed air campaign against the Houthis, attributed to U.S. military operations that began on March 15, rebel-held territories in Yemen have endured near-daily airstrikes. Following President Trump’s commitment to intensify military operations against the Houthis, Washington has indicated that it will deploy a second aircraft carrier group to the waters of the Middle East. This maneuver is part of a broader strategy to deter what it describes as aggression and safeguard the free flow of commerce in the region.
The Houthis had previously paused their attacks on commercial shipping during a six-week ceasefire in Gaza but resumed hostilities after Israel curtailed aid to the Palestinian territory. The rebels have since intensified their campaign, launching drone and missile strikes targeting both U.S. warships and Israeli interests. The Houthis are part of the so-called Axis of Resistance, a coalition of Iran-backed factions in the Middle East opposing Israeli and U.S. influence.
The ongoing conflict has prompted shipping firms to reroute from the Red Sea and Suez Canal, which normally sees about 12 percent of global maritime traffic. The financial implications of these detours have contributed to rising costs, exacerbating pressures on the global economy as firms grapple with the challenges presented by the conflict.
