Daijiworld Media Network - Sanaa

Sanaa, Apr 19: The US military launched 29 fresh airstrikes targeting Houthi-controlled sites across northern Yemen on Saturday, escalating tensions in the region as senior Houthi leader Mohammed Ali al-Houthi vowed to strike back.

According to Houthi-run al-Masirah TV, the early morning raids hit several areas in and around the capital Sanaa, as well as the provinces of Saada and Al-Jawf. While there are no immediate reports of casualties from Saturday’s strikes, the Houthis rarely disclose their losses.

The latest attacks come on the heels of a devastating US airstrike campaign Thursday night that targeted Ras Isa fuel port—a key strategic facility for the Houthis—killing at least 80 and injuring more than 150, according to Houthi health officials. Among the dead were port workers and five paramedics who were killed during a follow-up strike while responding to the wounded.

Saturday’s operation marks the most extensive US assault on Houthi positions since Washington resumed its air campaign in mid-March 2025. The destruction of Ras Isa—located near Hodeidah on the Red Sea—represents a major economic and logistical loss for the Houthis, cutting off a vital fuel source.

The US Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed the strike, stating that the goal was to “degrade the economic power” of the Houthi movement and eliminate a critical source of fuel used for operations.

In response, Mohammed Ali al-Houthi, head of the Houthi Revolutionary Committee, issued a stark warning. “We will have no red lines,” he said via al-Masirah TV. “We will target any American interest in the Middle East when the time comes—whether it’s oil fields, shipping lanes, or warships in the Red and Arabian seas.”

The airstrikes have triggered condemnation from Iran and several human rights groups, who criticized the humanitarian impact and loss of civilian lives.

The latest flare-up follows the Trump administration's designation of the Houthis as a "foreign terrorist organisation" on March 4. That decision came after the group launched repeated attacks on Israel and international shipping routes in the Red and Arabian seas, amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza.

On Friday, the Houthis claimed responsibility for launching a ballistic missile at Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport, which was reportedly intercepted. They also said they targeted US aircraft carriers, including the USS Harry S Truman and USS Carl Vinson, though the US military has not verified these claims. CENTCOM has previously dismissed similar allegations as baseless.

The Houthis maintain that their operations are aimed at pressuring the US and Israel to halt military actions in Gaza and allow humanitarian relief to reach Palestinian civilians.

As the situation intensifies, both sides appear entrenched in a cycle of escalating attacks and retaliatory threats, raising fears of a broader regional conflict.