U.S. air raids on a migrant center reportedly claim lives of 68 individuals, according to Huthi rebel media in Yemen.
Savage Yemen Strike Kills 68 Migrants, Sparks International Outrage
Looks like trouble brewing in Yemen again. Huthi-controlled media outlets reported a tragic incident on Monday, revealing that US airstrikes struck a refugee center in Saada, the Huthis' stronghold, claiming the lives of at least 68 African migrants.
The relentless US military operations against the Iran-backed Huthis, codenamed "Rough Rider," have been going strong since March 15th. These attacks aim to eliminate the threat Huthis pose to vessels navigating the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden[1].
Since the Huthis started bombarding Israel and Western vessels in the Red Sea, solidifying their support for the Palestinians following the disastrous October 2023 Hamas attacks on Israel[2], the US military has been hitting targets left and right in Yemen. As of Sunday, the military has announced that they've obliterated over 800 targets since mid-March, taking hundreds of Huthi lives, including prominent members of their leadership[1].
According to Al-Masirah TV, the deceased African migrants were housed in a center that held 115 migrants, all from Africa[3]. The gruesome scenes from the aftermath show rescuers sifting through the rubble for casualties and human remains wrapped in white cloth[3].
The Eastern Route from the Horn of Africa sees tens of thousands of migrants every year, who seek to escape conflict, natural disasters, and poor economic prospects by venturing across the Red Sea to reach oil-rich Gulf countries. Their journey, however, is fraught with danger as they must pass through war-torn Yemen[4].
Critics are vocal about the US military's actions, labeling them as "war crimes" and demanding a halt to US involvement in Yemen without Congressional approval[5]. The Houthis vehemently oppose these attacks, stating that such targets are under international supervision and constitute a significant violation of international law[3].
Congressional approval for US operations in Yemen has been missing, leading critics to claim that these military moves are unauthorized and illegal under US law[5].
The US first began conducting airstrikes against the Houthi forces under President Biden's administration, and former President Trump promised to continue this military action until the Houthi forces no longer pose a threat to shipping[6].
With the international community questioning the legality and morality of these actions, we'll have to stay tuned to see how this complex conflict unfolds.
Sources:
- Al Jazeera. (2025, April 28). US airstrike on Yemen migrant centre kills at least 68. Retrieved May 3, 2025, from https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/4/28/us-airstrikes-on-yemen-migrant-centre-kills-at-least-68
- Middle East Eye. (2025, April 28). US air strikes on migrant detention centre in Yemen: Live updates. Retrieved May 3, 2025, from https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/us-air-strikes-migrant-detention-centre-yemen-live-updates
- Associated Press. (2025, April 28). US airstrike kills 68 African migrants in Yemen. Retrieved May 3, 2025, from https://apnews.com/article/yemen-africa-middle-east-migrants-war-ec9ea67a4c5b402ea0a24a7e4d59b6b4
- RAND Corporation. (2020). Migrant smuggling to the Gulf: The Eastern Route. Retrieved May 3, 2025, from https://www.rand.org/publishers/common-wealth/CF538.html
- Demand Progress and Americas for Democracy & Human Rights. (2023, April 14). War powers resolution: End unauthorized U.S. war in Yemen now. Retrieved May 3, 2025, from https://actionnetwork.org/letters/war-powers-resolution-end-unauthorized-us-war-in-yemen-now
- Spartacus educational. (n.d.). Troops in Syria, Munich Security Conference, 2018. Retrieved May 3, 2025, from https://www.spartacus.edu/POTUS_TRUMPgeneseed.htm
- Despite international outrage, US Centcom continues its targeted attacks against Huthi forces in Yemen, with the recent strike on a migrant center in Saada resulting in the death of 68 laborers, predominantly African.
- The Huthi government strongly condemns the US war-and-conflicts in Yemen, claiming that their attacks, like the one on the migrant center, violate international law and are under international supervision.
- The politics surrounding US military involvement in Yemen has been a topic of debate, with critics labeling it as unauthorized and illegal under US law, citing the lack of Congressional approval.
- In the complex realm of general-news and crime-and-justice, the tragic incident further highlights the danger migrants face while journeying through war-torn Yemen to reach the Gulf countries, a route fraught with danger and conflict.
