US Airstrikes on Yemen Oil Port Kill 80 in Major Escalation Against Houthis
The United States conducted devastating airstrikes on Yemen's Ras Isa oil port that killed at least 80 people and wounded over 150 others, according to Houthi officials, marking a significant escalation in President Trump's military campaign against the Iran-backed rebel group that controls much of northern Yemen.
US Targets Critical Houthi Fuel Infrastructure
American forces struck the Ras Isa port—a major fuel depot in the Houthi-controlled province of Hudaydah along Yemen's Red Sea coast—late Thursday in what US military officials described as an operation aimed at crippling the Houthis' financial and logistical capabilities. The attack sent massive fireballs skyward and turned tanker trucks into burning wrecks, according to eyewitness reports and footage released by local media PBS NewsHour1.
"U.S. forces took action to eliminate this source of fuel for the Iran-backed Houthi terrorists and deprive them of illegal revenue that has funded Houthi efforts to terrorize the entire region for over 10 years," US Central Command (CENTCOM) said in a statement Times of Israel2.
The port serves as a crucial hub for incoming fuel shipments that power Houthi-controlled areas and is a significant revenue source for the rebel group New York Times3.
Hours after the initial attack, Houthi media reported fresh strikes in and around Yemen's capital Sanaa, suggesting a broadening of the US campaign Times of Israel2.
Rising Death Toll and Response to Strikes
The Houthi-run health ministry initially reported 74 deaths and 171 wounded, but later revised the toll to 80 killed and 150 injured. The rebels immediately released graphic footage of those killed in the attack, though the casualty figures cannot be independently verified New York Times3.
US Central Command declined to comment on potential civilian casualties, stating only that "this strike was not intended to harm the people of Yemen" PBS NewsHour1.
According to Mohammed Albasha, a US-based consultant, the overall number of deaths from renewed US strikes since mid-March now stands at 198, making this latest attack the deadliest single incident in the campaign Times of Israel2.
In response to the US strikes, the Houthis announced missile attacks targeting Israel and two US aircraft carriers. Israel's military confirmed intercepting a missile launched from Yemen in the aftermath of the strikes Times of Israel2.
Global Reactions and Diplomatic Tensions
International reaction to the escalation has been swift and varied. Iran, a key backer of the Houthi rebels, condemned the US strikes as "barbaric," while Hamas denounced them as "blatant aggression" Times of Israel2.
Separately, US State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce accused a Chinese satellite firm, Chang Guang Satellite Technology Company, of "directly supporting" Houthi attacks on "US interests," adding another layer of international tension to the conflict Times of Israel2.
The airstrikes come as negotiations between the US and Iran over Tehran's nuclear program resumed in Rome, highlighting the complex web of regional geopolitics involved in the Yemen conflict PBS NewsHour1.
Expert Analysis: Strategic Messaging and Escalation
Security analysts interpret the strikes as part of a deliberate strategy to send a message beyond Yemen. "The military actions in Yemen are clearly sending a signal to Tehran," said Mohammed Albasha, noting that the US campaign now targets not only military assets but also economic infrastructure supporting the Houthis Times of Israel2.
The strikes represent a significant escalation from the Trump administration, which has vowed that the Houthis will be "completely annihilated." Since taking office, President Trump has ramped up efforts started by the Biden administration, tightening sanctions and re-designating the group as a "foreign terrorist organization" New York Times3.
This attack marks the first American strike on a Houthi-controlled oil facility since the beginning of the new bombing campaign and represents a shift toward targeting economic infrastructure rather than just military capabilities PBS NewsHour1.
Future Implications of Intensified Military Campaign
The intensification of US military operations against the Houthis raises several critical concerns for regional stability. With the Houthis continuing to attack shipping in the Red Sea—a vital global trade route—the conflict directly impacts international commerce and energy security PBS NewsHour1.
Experts have warned that targeting ports like Ras Isa could worsen the already dire humanitarian conditions in Yemen, which has suffered through years of civil war New York Times3.
The Houthis are considered the last militant group in Iran's self-described "Axis of Resistance" capable of regularly attacking Israel, making them strategically significant in the broader Middle East conflict. Their continued operations against Israel in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza add another dimension to an already complex regional situation PBS NewsHour1.
A Precarious Crossroads for Regional Stability
As US military operations escalate against the Iran-backed Houthis, the Middle East stands at a precarious crossroads. The deadly strikes at Ras Isa have significantly raised the stakes in this proxy conflict, but will they achieve their strategic objectives of degrading Houthi capabilities, or merely inflame regional tensions and humanitarian crises in an already volatile part of the world?
