US Airstrikes on Ras Isa Port in Yemen Cause Outrage, Kill at Least 80

At least 80 people are killed by US airstrikes on Yemen’s Ras Isa oil port, which infuriates the country.

At least 80 people have been killed and 150 injured in a series of US airstrikes on Yemen’s Ras Isa oil terminal, which Houthi sources claim are among the bloodiest US attacks on Yemeni territory.

The US Central Command (CENTCOM), which announced the strikes on Thursday, stated that the target was a vital source of income and fuel for the Houthi rebels, who are supported by Iran. In a social media statement, CENTCOM stated that the goal of these strikes was to weaken the Houthis’ economic base of power.

However, the consequences have been dire. Port workers, truck drivers, rescue personnel, and civilians who were unprepared when the bombs dropped during working hours are among the dead, according to the Hodeidah Health Office and Houthi-affiliated Al-Masirah television.

Mohammed al-Attab, a Sanaa-based Al Jazeera correspondent, stated that the first four airstrikes were carried out while the civilians were at work. “The employees were caught off guard by the air raids.”

Al Masirah broadcast footage of nighttime explosions in the port of Ras Isa, which are followed by debris, fires, and gruesome pictures of civilian victims. More videos that have been made public online show damaged equipment and charred survivors, creating a somber image of the strike’s aftermath.

A key component of Yemen’s devastated economy and aid infrastructure is the port of Ras Isa, which is home to an essential oil pipeline. The UN Development Programme describes it as “critical and irreplaceable.” Ras Isa and neighboring ports in Hodeidah and as-Salif handle an estimated 70% of the nation’s imports and 80% of its humanitarian supplies.

Soon after, there was widespread condemnation throughout Yemen, including large-scale demonstrations in the capital. Yahya Saree, the spokesperson for the Houthi military, cautioned that the strike will lead to a wave of reprisals. He warned protesters that “more counterattacks, clashes, and confrontations will only result from the American military build-up and continued aggression against our country.”

Houthi groups reported missile attacks on two US aircraft carriers and locations in Israel shortly after the strikes. According to Israel’s military, it stopped one missile that was fired from Yemen.

The US mission coincides with rising Red Sea tensions. In what they portray as aid for Palestinians in Gaza, the Houthis have attacked more than 100 commercial vessels since November 2023 that they claim are connected to Israel. The organization has been told by the Biden administration that unless the attacks stop, airstrikes will continue.

The most extensive US military campaign in the Middle East since President Donald Trump’s departure includes this most recent escalation. According to reports, American airstrikes in March killed more than fifty people in two days.

Houthi officials claim that US attacks will only strengthen their resolve despite the growing number of victims. 

According to Mohammed Nasser al-Atifi, a senior Houthi official, “the crimes committed by the American enemy will not discourage the Yemeni people from supporting Gaza, but rather will strengthen their steadfastness and resilience.”