US airstrikes target Houthi positions in Yemen, killing at least one

U.S. airstrikes reportedly struck multiple areas across Yemen late on March 29, with at least one person confirmed dead in the governorate of Saada, as the American military acknowledged bombing key military sites held by the Houthi rebels in the heart of Sanaa.

These latest attacks follow a series of airstrikes that began on March 28 and appear to mark a significant escalation in the ongoing U.S. military operation, which has intensified since President Donald Trump’s administration, Caliber.Az reports, citing Associated Press.

The full extent of the damage and possible casualties is still being assessed, though rebel-controlled media have reported that at least one civilian was killed and four others were injured in Saada. The Houthi-run SABA news agency confirmed the civilian death, though it is believed that military casualties may be underreported as many of the strikes have targeted military and intelligence infrastructure operated by the Houthis.

The U.S. Central Command released black-and-white video footage on March 29, showing an airstrike that targeted a military headquarters in Sanaa, believed to be the Houthi general command. This was corroborated by an Associated Press review, though the Houthis have not acknowledged the strike. Additionally, the U.S. military’s actions come on the heels of a warning from the Houthis, who recently threatened to escalate attacks on maritime vessels, citing Israel’s blockade of humanitarian aid to Gaza.

The strikes come as the Houthis have ramped up their maritime threats, having previously targeted more than 100 merchant vessels, including sinking two ships and killing four sailors during a campaign from November 2023 to January 2024. The rebels have also launched drone and missile attacks on U.S. warships, although none have yet struck their targets.

The ongoing airstrikes, described as more extensive than those carried out during the administration of former President Joe Biden, focus on Houthi launch sites, but increasingly include operations against rebel personnel and infrastructure in urban areas. Satellite images taken on March 29 reveal that the U.S. military has stationed long-range B-2 stealth bombers at Diego Garcia, a base in the Indian Ocean well beyond the reach of Houthi forces, adding to the already extensive U.S. airstrike capabilities in the region.

Meanwhile, an emerging airstrip on Mayun Island, located near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, has been identified in satellite images as being near operational status, with markings for landing aircraft. The strategic island has seen increased military presence, with analysts suggesting that the airstrip may be linked to the UAE’s involvement in the region, which supports the Southern Transitional Council in Yemen’s secessionist conflict.

The American military’s strategic positioning continues with the deployment of the USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier in the Red Sea and plans to bring the USS Carl Vinson from Asia. In addition, France has confirmed the presence of its aircraft carrier, Charles de Gaulle, in Djibouti, though it remains separate from the U.S.-led airstrike campaign.

By Vugar Khalilov