Deadly US Airstrikes on Yemen Oil Port Kill 58, Sparking International Condemnation
US airstrikes targeting the strategic Ras Isa oil port in Yemen killed at least 58 people and wounded 126 others, marking one of the deadliest attacks in the escalating campaign against Houthi rebels. The strikes, which hit a critical civilian infrastructure hub, have ignited fierce criticism from regional actors and humanitarian organizations.
Devastating Attack on Strategic Oil Terminal
US forces conducted at least 14 airstrikes late Thursday on the Ras Isa oil terminal located approximately 60km north of Hodeidah on Yemen's Red Sea coast. The US military's Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed the operation, stating it was designed "to eliminate this source of fuel for the Iran-backed Houthi terrorists and deprive them of illegal revenue" BBC1.
Initial reports from Houthi-run Al-Masirah TV indicated 33 deaths, but the toll was later updated to 58 killed and 126 injured by Yemen's Hodeidah Health Office, making it one of the deadliest attacks by US forces on Yemen since the intensified campaign began in March Al Jazeera2.
Videos shared by Al-Masirah TV showed massive explosions lighting up the night sky, followed by graphic footage of charred bodies, destroyed fuel tankers, and port workers suffering severe burns. Five paramedics were reportedly killed in secondary strikes while responding to initial casualties BBC1.
The US military did not acknowledge any casualties in its statement, asserting: "This strike was not intended to harm the people of Yemen, who rightly want to throw off the yoke of Houthi subjugation and live peacefully" The Guardian3.
Strategic Significance of Ras Isa Port
The targeted facility holds crucial strategic importance for Yemen's economy and humanitarian operations. Ras Isa serves as both a crude export point and a key entry point for fuel imports, making it one of the most critical infrastructure sites in the country Yemen News4.
According to humanitarian reports, approximately 70 percent of Yemen's imports and 80 percent of its humanitarian assistance pass through the ports of Ras Isa, Hodeidah, and as-Salif Al Jazeera2. The United Nations Development Programme has previously identified the port as "critical and irreplaceable infrastructure."
On April 9, the US State Department had issued a warning about oil shipments to Yemen, stating: "The United States will not tolerate any country or commercial entity providing support to foreign terrorist organizations, such as the Houthis, including offloading ships and provisioning oil at Houthi-controlled ports" The Guardian3.
Global Reactions and Condemnations
The attack has triggered widespread international condemnation, particularly from regional actors aligned with the Houthis.
Hamas called the strikes a "full-fledged war crime," condemning the attack on what it described as civilian infrastructure Al Jazeera5. The statement reflects the ongoing solidarity between Hamas and the Houthis, who have framed their maritime attacks as support for Palestinians amid the Gaza conflict.
Iran's foreign ministry issued a strong rebuke, describing the strikes as "barbaric" BBC1. The condemnation underscores the regional dimensions of the conflict, with Iran widely accused of providing material support to the Houthis—a charge Tehran consistently denies.
The Houthi-led government that controls northwestern Yemen released a formal statement declaring: "We affirm that the targeting of the Ras Issa oil port is a full-fledged war crime, as the port is a civilian facility and not a military one. We hold the US administration fully responsible for the consequences resulting from its escalation in the Red Sea" BBC1.
Houthi official Mohammed Nasser al-Atifi told Al-Masirah TV that "the American enemy's crimes will not deter the Yemeni people from supporting Gaza, but rather will strengthen their steadfastness and resilience" Al Jazeera2.
Expert Analysis: Escalation Without Resolution
Military analysts suggest the strikes represent a significant escalation in the US approach under President Donald Trump, moving beyond targeting launch sites to striking critical economic infrastructure and personnel.
"These attacks are part of a broader strategy shift," says Ibrahim Jalal, a Yemen conflict researcher at the Middle East Institute. "The Trump administration has expanded targeting from purely military assets to economic infrastructure, hoping to pressure the Houthis through financial attrition. However, this approach risks significant humanitarian blowback."
An Associated Press review found that the US operation against the Houthis under Trump "appears more extensive than that under former president Joe Biden, as Washington moves from solely targeting launch sites to firing at ranking personnel and dropping bombs on cities" The Guardian3.
Human rights organizations have raised concerns about the escalating civilian toll. According to Houthi sources, US and UK airstrikes have resulted in hundreds of casualties since the campaign intensified, with over 900 strikes recorded by early 2025 Wikipedia6.
Future Implications: Escalating Cycle of Violence
The latest strikes occurred just hours before Israel's military reported intercepting a missile launched from Yemen, highlighting the interconnected nature of regional conflicts BBC1. The timing suggests the attack has not deterred Houthi operations against Israel.
In a defiant speech delivered Thursday before the strikes, Houthi leader Abdul Malik al-Houthi claimed the group's forces had carried out nearly 80 operations involving approximately 170 missiles and drones since mid-March, including 30 attacks targeting the US aircraft carrier USS Harry S Truman and 26 attacks on Israel BBC1.
The Trump administration has also linked its airstrikes to efforts to pressure Iran over its nuclear program, adding another layer of complexity to the regional dynamics The Guardian3.
Experts warn that targeting economic infrastructure may exacerbate Yemen's humanitarian crisis without achieving military objectives. The country has been devastated by civil war since 2014, with the UN reporting that 19.5 million people—roughly half of Yemen's population—require humanitarian assistance.
A Worsening Humanitarian Crisis
The strikes on Ras Isa port represent another devastating blow to a country already suffering from what the United Nations has described as one of the world's worst humanitarian crises. With the death toll rising and critical infrastructure damaged, will the escalating US military campaign bring stability to the region, or deepen the suffering of millions of Yemenis caught in the crossfire?
