US Targets Over 1,000 Houthi Sites in Yemen Campaign

The United States, often in coordination with the United Kingdom, has conducted over 1,000 air strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen since mid-March, aiming to degrade the group's ability to attack shipping lanes in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. U.S. officials claim the strikes have killed Houthi fighters and senior leaders, destroyed command centers, air defense systems, weapons production sites, and reduced the frequency of Houthi missile and drone attacks. However, Houthi officials and independent reports indicate significant civilian casualties, including a recent strike on a migrant detention facility in Saada that killed at least 68 people, mostly African migrants, according to preliminary UN findings. While the U.S. asserts efforts to minimize civilian harm, it is reviewing reports of civilian deaths and maintains that operations will continue until Houthi attacks on shipping cease. The Houthis say their attacks are in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, while the U.S. and its allies cite the need to secure vital international shipping routes. The operation has notably involved major carrier strike groups and marks a substantial escalation in U.S. military involvement in the region.