Latest wave of strikes marks most aggressive U.S. campaign in Yemen to date under President Trump’s authority
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
Suspected U.S. airstrikes hit multiple Houthi-controlled areas across Yemen early Friday, with intense bombardment reported in the capital Sanaa, as well as key rebel strongholds in Saada, Hodeida, Amran, and al-Jawf governorates. The strikes, part of an expanding American military campaign authorized by President Donald Trump, marked a significant escalation in operations targeting the Iran-aligned group.
The strikes reportedly included both mountainous regions north of the capital—believed to house military camps—and dense urban neighborhoods. Among the targets was Sanaa International Airport, which services both civilian and military aircraft. The Houthis’ al-Masirah TV reported communication outages in the aftermath of the strikes, but official casualty figures remained unclear. The rebel-run SABA news agency stated that at least one person was injured in the capital.
According to a review by the Associated Press, the current campaign—launched on March 15—is more extensive than those conducted under former President Joe Biden, shifting from targeting launch sites to striking personnel and infrastructure in populated areas.
The United States military’s Central Command, which now operates in Yemen under expanded presidential authority, has yet to formally confirm the latest round of attacks. Under Biden, CENTCOM routinely acknowledged individual strikes, but such details have been withheld in the current phase of operations.
Initial U.S. strikes on March 15 reportedly killed 57 individuals and were launched in response to renewed threats by the Houthis to attack “Israeli” ships in retaliation for Israel’s blockade on aid entering Gaza. The Houthis have previously used a broad definition of “Israeli” vessels, a classification that has included ships with no direct links to Israel.
Between November 2023 and January 2024, the Houthis launched over 100 attacks on merchant vessels using missiles and drones, sinking two ships and killing four sailors. They have also attempted to target U.S. naval warships in the Red Sea, though none have been successfully struck.
The recent U.S. air campaign has coincided with a growing internal crackdown by the Houthis, who are under mounting economic pressure and have targeted dissenters and aid workers within Yemen. The escalation in military engagement by the Trump administration marks a return to a more forceful U.S. posture in the region, using direct airpower to disrupt Houthi operations amid Yemen’s enduring civil conflict.
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