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A deadly U.S. airstrike on Yemen’s Ras Isa oil port has killed at least 74 people and injured 171, according to Houthi sources, marking the most lethal assault since Donald Trump launched his renewed military campaign against the Iran-backed rebel group.
The overnight strike, which ignited massive fireballs at the oil facility in Hodeida governorate, is the first known U.S. attack on Houthi fuel infrastructure, signaling a major escalation in the ongoing conflict. Satellite images show scorched tanks and oil leaking into the Red Sea.
U.S. Central Command confirmed the operation, stating it aimed to “eliminate a critical fuel source” and disrupt the Houthis’ revenue stream used to “terrorize the region.” However, the statement did not mention civilian casualties or structural damage.
The Houthis, who seized Yemen’s capital Sanaa in 2014, condemned the bombing as an “unjustified aggression” against a civilian facility vital to millions. Footage from the scene broadcast by Al-Masirah TV showed charred vehicles and bodies amid burning wreckage.
Ras Isa serves as a key import hub for gasoline, diesel, and LPG for Houthi-held regions, and connects to Yemen’s oil fields in Marib. The loss of the port could worsen the humanitarian crisis in northern Yemen.
The incident comes amid growing regional tensions. Hours after the airstrike, the Houthis reportedly launched a missile at Israel, intercepted by Israeli defenses. The U.S. also accused China’s Chang Guang Satellite Technology of aiding Houthi targeting efforts via satellite imagery—an allegation Beijing has not directly addressed.
This is part of a broader, monthlong U.S. offensive against the Houthis, initiated after the group resumed attacks on Red Sea shipping in protest of Israeli actions in Gaza. Since November 2023, the Houthis have attacked over 100 vessels, disrupting a global trade route worth $1 trillion annually.
Analysts say the Ras Isa strike is the deadliest publicly acknowledged hit so far. However, the true scale of casualties remains unclear due to restricted access and limited independent reporting.
AFP
