The death toll from recent US airstrikes in Yemen has risen to 53, including five children, according to the Houthi-controlled health ministry.

The United States launched a series of strikes on Houthi targets on Saturday, which President Donald Trump described as a response to ongoing attacks on Red Sea shipping. Washington claims that key Houthi figures were among those killed, though the rebel group has not confirmed this.

Houthi leader Abdul Malik al-Houthi vowed retaliation, stating that US vessels in the Red Sea would be targeted as long as American strikes on Yemen continue.

Providing an updated casualty count, Houthi health ministry spokesperson Anis al-Asbahi posted on X that among the 53 killed were "five children and two women," with 98 others wounded.

Witnesses in the Yemeni capital, Sanaa, described the intensity of the strikes. "I've lived in this city for a decade, hearing explosions throughout the war, but nothing like this," one resident told AFP.

The Houthis reported additional US strikes early Monday in Al Jaouf and Hudaydah, though Washington has yet to comment. Meanwhile, US officials have defended the campaign. National Security Advisor Michael Waltz stated that Saturday’s operation "eliminated multiple Houthi leaders," while Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth pledged an "unrelenting" offensive to restore security in the Red Sea.

The Houthis insist they will continue targeting Red Sea shipping until Israel lifts its blockade of Gaza. The Iran-backed group, which controls much of northwestern Yemen, claims its actions support Palestinians amid the Israel-Hamas war.

Since November 2023, the Houthis have launched attacks on merchant vessels, leading to ship seizures, casualties, and heightened tensions in the region. The UN has called for restraint and an end to hostilities.

Source: BBC

BDST: 1325 HRS, MAR 17, 2025
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