U.S. airstrikes kill 12 in Sanaa marketplace

U.S. airstrikes hit a crowded marketplace in the Farwah neighborhood of Sanaa, Yemen’s capital killing at least 12 people and wounding 30, according to Houthi-controlled health authorities. Video footage circulated after the attack shows rescue services combing through rubble.

The strikes are part of an intensified U.S. campaign against the Houthi rebels, who have long been accused of targeting maritime security in the Red Sea and attacking Israeli-linked vessels. The U.S. military’s Central Command has not publicly commented on the strike or provided casualty figures, leaving many details unconfirmed amid the complex and opaque nature of the conflict.

This latest attack comes on the heels of a deadly U.S. strike on Yemen’s Ras Isa fuel port last week, which reportedly killed at least 74 people and injured 171, further highlighting the escalating nature of U.S. operations in the region. The Houthis have been actively engaged in a campaign against commercial shipping, launching over 100 assaults from November 2023 until January using missiles and drones—actions that have sunk two vessels and claimed the lives of four sailors. These aggressive moves have significantly disrupted the flow of goods through the Red Sea, a global trade corridor that typically handles around $1 trillion in commerce annually.

The renewed U.S. focus on the Houthis comes amid rising tensions over shipping security and American concerns regarding the group’s potential attacks on Israeli interests. The recent operations under President Trump appear more extensive compared to previous measures under President Joe Biden, and were reportedly prompted by threats from the Houthis to target “Israeli” ships again following Israel’s blockade of aid shipments to Gaza.

Limited transparency from both the U.S. military and Houthi-controlled authorities has left the full toll of these airstrikes uncertain.