The United States launched a series of airstrikes in Yemen overnight into Saturday, reportedly killing at least one person, as American forces continue a renewed campaign targeting Houthi rebel positions. The U.S. military previously acknowledged striking a significant military site in Sanaa controlled by the Iranian-backed Houthis.
The full extent of the damage and casualties remains unclear. The overnight strikes followed intense air raids on Friday, marking an escalation in the military campaign that began on March 15.
An analysis by the Associated Press indicates that the new American operation under President Donald Trump is broader than previous actions under former President Joe Biden. The strikes now target ranking Houthi personnel and drop bombs in urban areas, moving beyond launch sites.
Meanwhile, satellite images analyzed by the AP reveal a mysterious airstrip on Mayun Island in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. The airstrip, strategically positioned in a key maritime chokepoint, now appears capable of supporting flights and B-2 bombers, enabling rapid strikes in the region.
The airstrikes targeted multiple locations under Houthi control, including the capital, Sanaa, and the governorates of al-Jawf and Saada. The Houthi-run SABA news agency reported that the strikes in Saada killed one person, identified as a civilian, and wounded four others. Analysts suggest the rebels may be underreporting casualties, given the strikes’ focus on military and intelligence sites.
The U.S. Central Command confirmed one of Friday’s airstrikes by releasing black-and-white footage showing a bomb hitting a Houthi military command headquarters in Sanaa. The Houthis have not acknowledged the attack.
In a separate statement, the Houthi-controlled Telecommunications and Information Technology Ministry claimed that U.S. strikes destroyed “broadcasting stations, communication towers, and messaging networks” in Amran and Saada governorates. Intense airstrikes were reported around Jebel Aswad in Amran.
The latest U.S. campaign began after the Houthis threatened to target “Israeli” ships over Israel’s blockade of Gaza. The Houthis’ broad definition of Israeli vessels risks attacks on various commercial ships.
The Houthi rebels previously targeted over 100 merchant vessels, sinking two and killing four sailors. Attacks on American warships were also attempted but unsuccessful.
The rebels have also threatened U.S. allies Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, though both nations have stayed out of the American airstrike campaign.
Satellite photos from Saturday show at least four B-2 stealth bombers deployed to Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean. The bombers, which can carry nuclear weapons, are positioned out of Houthi range.
The USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier has conducted strikes from the Red Sea, while the USS Carl Vinson is expected to join from Asia. France’s sole aircraft carrier, the Charles de Gaulle, is currently in Djibouti, near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, though it is not involved in the U.S. campaign.
Satellite images from Planet Labs PBC show that an airstrip on Mayun Island in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait is now operational, with markings “09” and “27” indicating its east and west ends.
While the Saudi-led coalition previously acknowledged “equipment” on Mayun, traffic to the island links the construction to the UAE, which supports Yemen’s Southern Transitional Council.
The airstrip’s completion follows a similar project on Abd al-Kuri Island, near the Gulf of Aden, enhancing the UAE’s strategic military presence in the region.
The ongoing airstrikes mark a significant escalation in U.S. military involvement in Yemen’s complex conflict, raising concerns about regional stability and the humanitarian toll on the war-torn nation.
