US Airstrikes Hit Houthis as Yemeni Government Plans Major Offensive to Retake Port City
Suspected U.S. airstrikes in Yemen’s rebel-held capitol killed at least seven people and injured 29 others overnight, Houthi officials said on Monday.
In addition to the casualties, Houthi officials claimed to have shot down a U.S. MQ-9 Reaper drone on Sunday over Hajjah governorate, near the Saudi border.
Houthi military spokesperson Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree said in a pre-recorded statement the aircraft was hit with a “locally manufactured missile.” This marks the fourth drone the group claims to have downed in the past two weeks.
The U.S. has not confirmed the loss of a drone or provided details about the recent airstrikes, but the United States Central Command (CENTCOM) released a video showing airstrikes launched from USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) and USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) targeting multiple Iran-backed Houthi locations.
According to the White House, more than 200 strikes have been conducted since mid-March, though targets and damage assessments remain undisclosed.
On Monday, the Houthi-run Health Ministry reported that more than 120 people have been killed since the U.S. airstrike campaign began on March 15.
The recent strikes have killed several senior Houthi figures including Colonel Abdul Nasser Sarhan al-Kamali, intelligence chief for the Houthis. Kamali played a key role in coordinating operations against the Arab coalition, according to Al Horia News.
The Long War Journal reported that following the launch of the intensified U.S. airstrikes against the Houthis in March, Yemeni media outlets, and local families have confirmed the deaths of several fighters. However, only a limited number of these fatalities have been directly attributed to American strikes. Most reports often stated that the individuals were “martyred [while] performing his duty in defense of the homeland.”
Meanwhile, Emirati state media reported that Yemen’s internationally recognized government is preparing a major military offensive to retake the Houthi-controlled port city of Hodeidah. The operation, which may involve up to 80,000 troops, would be the largest in the civil war’s history. Dr. Abdulaziz Sager of the Gulf Research Center reported the mobilization and noted plans also include the surrounding areas and Taiz province.
Retaking Hodeidah would be a strategic blow to the Houthis, as the port serves as a crucial entry point for humanitarian aid and contains vital oil infrastructure. Analysts said control of the city could set the stage for a future operation to recapture the capital, Sanaa, which the Houthis have held since 2014.
As of press time, it remains unclear whether the U.S. will support Yemen’s operations against the Houthis.
The report on Yemen’s planned operation against the Houthi rebels comes weeks after Iran cut off its direct support for the group and withdrew its military troops from Yemen, a move senior Iranian officials have cited as a measure to prevent direct confrontation with the U.S.
