Yemen, April 19: Yemen’s Houthi rebels have pledged to intensify their military operations against both the United States and Israel after American airstrikes on the Ras Isa oil port killed at least 74 people and injured 171 others, CNN and Al Jazeera reported.
“Yemen will not back down from continuing its support operations for the Palestinian people until the Israeli aggression on Gaza stops and the siege is lifted,” read a statement from Houthi-controlled armed forces, according to CNN.
The group also warned that continued US “aggression” would provoke more “targeting, engagement, and confrontation.”
Thursday’s strike by US forces marked one of the deadliest attacks in Yemen in recent months. The Hodeidah health office earlier confirmed that 38 people were killed and 102 wounded in the initial toll. That figure later rose to 74 dead and 171 injured, according to updated reports by Al Jazeera.
The US Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed its forces carried out the attack, saying it aimed to sever the Houthis’ fuel supply and weaken the economic resources of the Iran-backed group.
“Today, US forces took action to eliminate this source of fuel for the Iran-backed Houthi terrorists,” CENTCOM said. “The objective of these strikes was to degrade the economic source of power of the Houthis.”
Since mid-March, the US military has conducted several airstrikes across Yemen, targeting oil refineries, missile sites, and airports in an effort to disrupt Houthi capabilities.
US President Donald Trump previously stated that Washington would apply “overwhelming force” to prevent further attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea.
The Houthis, who control much of northern Yemen, have launched multiple missiles toward Israel and have repeatedly disrupted maritime traffic in the Red Sea. The group claims these actions are in solidarity with Palestinians, in response to Israel’s military campaign in Gaza following the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack.
