Rebels say eight people killed as US acknowledges more than 800 airstrikes
US airstrikes targeting Yemenâs capital killed at least eight people overnight, Houthi rebels said, as the American military acknowledged carrying out more than 800 individual strikes in their month-long campaign.
The rebels also alleged a US airstrike hit a prison holding African migrants.
The overnight statement from the US militaryâs Central Command also said its Operation Roughrider targeting the rebels had âkilled hundreds of Houthi fighters and numerous Houthi leadersâ, including those associated with its missile and drone program. It did not identify any of those officials.
Central Command did not comment on the claims about the prison, and casualty figures were not clear. Graphic footage aired by the Houthiâs al-Masirah satellite news channel showed what appeared to be dead bodies and others wounded from an explosion at the site.
The US insisted it would continue to carry out its airstrikes, which began on March 15 under President Donald Trump as he seeks a deal with Iran over its rapidly advancing nuclear programme.
âIran undoubtedly continues to provide support to the Houthis,â the statement said.
âThe Houthis can only continue to attack our forces with the backing of the Iranian regime.
âWe will continue to ratchet up the pressure until the objective is met, which remains the restoration of freedom of navigation and American deterrence in the region.â
The US is targeting the Houthis because of the groupâs attacks on shipping in the Red Sea, a crucial global trade route, and on Israel.
The Houthis are also the last militant group in Iranâs self-described Axis of Resistance capable of regularly attacking Israel.
Early on Monday, the Houthis aired footage of what it described as a US strike targeting the Bani Al Harith District north of Yemenâs rebel-held capital Sanaa. Blood stains could be seen among the rubble and a damaged truck.
The al-Masirah channel reported that eight people were killed in the strike, something not immediately acknowledged by Health Ministry officials.
Strikes also hit Yemenâs Amran and Saada governorates during the night with two others killed on Sunday, the Houthis said.
âTo preserve operational security, we have intentionally limited disclosing details of our ongoing or future operations,â Central Command said on Monday. âWe are very deliberate in our operational approach, but will not reveal specifics about what weâve done or what we will do.â
24/7 operations continue against Iran-backed Houthis from CENTCOM forces aboard USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) and USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70).#HouthisAreTerrorists pic.twitter.com/ArFPA86WYo
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) April 26, 2025
The military has not acknowledged strikes killing civilians â something activists warn likely has happened in the intense campaign.
The US is conducting strikes from its two aircraft carriers in the region â the USS Harry S Truman in the Red Sea and the USS Carl Vinson in the Arabian Sea.
On April 18, an American strike on the Ras Isa fuel port killed at least 74 people and wounded 171 others in the deadliest-known attack of the American campaign.
Central Command on Monday offered an explanation for why it hit the port.
âUS strikes destroyed the ability of Ras Isa Port to accept fuel which will begin to impact Houthi ability to not only conduct operations, but also to generate millions of dollars in revenue for their terror activities,â it said.
The Houthis have increasingly sought to control the flow of information from the territory it holds to the outside world. It issued a notice on Sunday that all those holding Starlink satellite internet receivers should âquickly hand overâ the devices to authorities.
Starlink terminals have been crucial for Ukraine in fighting Russiaâs full-scale invasion, and receivers also have been smuggled into Iran amid unrest there.
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