Suspected US strikes pummel Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen
[March 28, 2025]
By JON GAMBRELL
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Suspected U.S. airstrikes pummeled
sites across Yemen controlled by the Houthi rebels early Friday,
including neighborhoods in the capital, Sanaa.
The extent of the damage and possible casualties wasn't immediately
clear, though the number of strikes appeared particularly intense
compared to other days in the campaign that began March 15.
An Associated Press review has found the new American operation under
President Donald Trump appears more more extensive than those under
former President Joe Biden, as the U.S. moves from solely targeting
launch sites to firing at ranking personnel as well as dropping bombs in
cities.
Initial reports from the Houthis described at least seven people being
hurt in the attacks Friday in Sanaa, Yemen's capital that the rebels
have held since 2014. Other strikes hit around the Red Sea port city of
Hodeida, the rebel's stronghold of Saada and in Yemen's al-Jawf, Amran
and Marib governorates.
The Houthis did not immediately acknowledge what at those sites had been
targeted, other than Sanaa International Airport, which is used for both
civilian and military traffic. Neighborhoods in the capital also are
home to military and intelligence service sites — as well as crowded
with civilians.
An Associated Press video showed one bomb dropping into Sanaa, with a
huge plume of smoke rising into the night sky as many people were awake
in the final days of the Muslim holy fasting month of Ramadan.
Other areas hit included mountainous terrain north of Sanaa in Amran,
where military camps and other installations are believed to be. The
Houthis' al-Masirah satellite news network described communication
networks going down after the attacks, which included at least 19
strikes there alone.
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In this image made from video, smoke rises after a blast in Sanaa,
Yemen, Friday, March 28, 2025. (AP Photo)
The U.S. military's Central Command, which now has authority from
the White House to strike offensively in Yemen without pre-approval,
did not immediately acknowledge conducting any strikes. The command,
which under Biden offered details on individual strikes, has not
provided that information in this campaign.
The new campaign of airstrikes, which the Houthis say have killed at
least 57 people, started after the rebels threatened to begin
targeting “Israeli” ships again over Israel blocking aid entering
the Gaza Strip. The rebels in the past have had a loose definition
of what constitutes an Israeli ship, meaning other vessels could be
targeted as well.
The Houthis had targeted over 100 merchant vessels with missiles and
drones, sinking two vessels and killing four sailors during their
campaign targeting ships from November 2023 until January of this
year. They also launched attacks targeting American warships, though
none have been hit so far.
The attacks greatly raised the Houthis’ profile as they faced
economic problems and launched a crackdown targeting any dissent and
aid workers at home amid Yemen’s decadelong stalemated war that has
torn apart the Arab world’s poorest nation.
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