Sanaa— At least 23 people including women and children have been killed and dozens injured as a result of a major US attack on Yemen on Saturday night that targeted the capital Sanaa, Saada and other cities controlled by the Houthi government.
The US President Donald Trump announced a “decisive and powerful military action” warning that “hell will rain down” on the Yemenis unless they stop targeting US interests and disrupting international commercial navigation in the Middle East.
Al Masirah Net, a Houthi media outlet, said the US launched at least 30 raids on Saturday evening and Sunday morning. The Houthi spokesman Mohammed Abdul-Salam accused, in a statement, the US of overstating the threat to shipping operations, and called the targeting of residential neighborhoods and civilians “a full-fledged war crime”.
It added, the US attacks came “in response to Yemen’s stance of solidarity with the Palestinian people”, and promised that the US’s “aggression against the country will not deter Yemen from continuing its support for Palestine and fulfilling its obligations towards Gaza”.
Last week, the Houthis threatened to resume attacks on Israel-linked ships in the Red Sea over the total blockade of the Gaza Strip, which has now entered its third week.
“Our brave Warfighters are right now carrying out aerial attacks on the terrorists’ bases, leaders, and missile defenses to protect American shipping, air, and naval assets, and to restore Navigational Freedom,” Trump said in a social media post. “No terrorist force will stop American commercial and naval vessels from freely sailing the Waterways of the World.”
Trump also warned Iran to stop supporting the Houthis saying he would hold the Islamic Republic of Iran “fully accountable” for the actions of its proxy, according to the Associated Press.
Trump, however, sent a letter last week to Iranian leaders offering a path to restarting bilateral talks between both countries on Iran’s nuclear program. Iran has yet to comment and response to such letter.
Nasruddin Amer, deputy head of the Houthi media office, said the airstrikes won’t deter them and they would retaliate against the US. “Sanaa will remain Gaza’s shield and support and will not abandon it no matter the challenges,” he added as quoted by AP.
Israeli forces continue attacks on Gaza despite the ceasefire, killing at least 9 people including relief workers and journalists, in Beit Lahiya on Saturday.
The Palestinian Journalists’ Protection Center, a local watchdog, said the dead included three Palestinian journalists who were documenting aid distribution.
Gaza’s Health Ministry says at least 48,543 Palestinians have been confirmed killed and 111,981 wounded in Israel’s war on Gaza.
Gaza’s Government Media Office has updated its death toll to more than 61,700, saying thousands of Palestinians missing under the rubble are presumed dead.