By Ibrahem Qasim - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0
Yemen’s Houthi rebels have pledged to persist in their military actions against Israel and the United States in response to recent airstrikes on the Ras Isa oil port, which resulted in the deaths of at least 74 individuals, according to CNN.
The armed forces controlled by the Houthis stated, “Yemen will not waver in its support for the Palestinian people until the Israeli aggression in Gaza ceases and the blockade is lifted”.
Additionally, the group cautioned that US “aggression” would only provoke further targeting, engagement, and confrontation.
The airstrikes conducted by US forces on Thursday were among the deadliest in Yemen, resulting in at least 74 fatalities and injuring 171 others. The US Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed that these strikes aimed to disrupt the Houthis’ fuel and revenue streams, characterizing the operation as an attempt to undermine the economic strength of the Iran-backed group. In a social media post on Thursday, CENTCOM stated, “Today, US forces acted to eliminate this fuel source for the Iran-backed Houthi terrorists. The goal of these strikes was to diminish the economic power of the Houthis.”
Since mid-March, the US has been executing airstrikes on Houthi positions in Yemen, focusing on their oil refineries, airports, and missile sites.
US President Donald Trump had committed to employing “overwhelming force” until the objective of preventing the Houthis from targeting shipping in the Red Sea is achieved. Previously, the US military’s assault on the Ras Isa port resulted in at least 38 deaths, with approximately 102 individuals injured, as reported by Hodeidah’s health office.
The Houthis have launched multiple missile attacks against Israel and disrupted shipping in the Red Sea, claiming these actions are in solidarity with Palestinians amid Israel’s military operations in Gaza following the attacks on October 7, 2023.
