On Sunday morning, a US-led naval coalition launched three airstrikes targeting a Houthi military site in Saada, Yemen’s northern province, according to Houthi-run al-Masirah TV. Social media reports from residents corroborated the strikes, specifying a military installation as the target. The US military has yet to officially comment on the reported attacks.
These airstrikes follow a pattern of escalating conflict. Earlier, on December 31, 2024, a series of US-led airstrikes hit Sanaa, Yemen’s capital. Al-Masirah TV reported that these strikes targeted multiple locations, including the Defence Ministry building, other downtown areas, the 1st Armor Division, and an ammunition manufacturing complex. The intensity of the strikes caused damage to nearby houses, and ambulances rushed to the scene. While the exact number of casualties remains undisclosed, the presence of numerous Houthi fighters at the targeted sites suggests significant losses.
The December 31st strikes followed Houthi claims of responsibility for overnight attacks on Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv, a power station south of Jerusalem, and the USS Harry Truman aircraft carrier. In response, US Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed multiple precision strikes targeting Houthi positions in Sanaa and coastal regions, specifying the destruction of a command and control facility and advanced conventional weapons production and storage sites. These strikes, CENTCOM stated, included the targeting of missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
The ongoing conflict centers around the Houthi group’s increased attacks against Israel and “Israeli-linked” shipping in the Red Sea since November 2023. This has prompted retaliatory air raids and strikes by the US-led naval coalition, leading to a cycle of escalation and further attacks on US assets. The situation remains tense, with the potential for further conflict.