Houthis report 74 dead after US attack on Yemen fuel port
Houthi rebels have said that at least 74 people have been killed and about 171 have suffered wounds after the US launched strikes on a major fuel port in Yemen, France 24 via Reuters reported on April 18th.
The attacked fuel port was located in Ras Issa. Reportedly, the rebels started their attacks in late 2023, declaring allegiance with Palestinians in Gaza.
“We affirm that the targeting of the Ras Isa oil port is a full-fledged war crime, as the port is a civilian facility and not a military on,” said the Houthi-led government, the BBC reported on April 18th. “We hold the US administration fully responsible for the consequences resulting from its escalation in the Red Sea,” it added.
The US Central Command said the “objective of these strikes was to degrade the economic source of power of the Houthis . . .” It also warned that it “will not accept illicit smuggling of fuel and war material to a terrorist organisation.”
Iran’s foreign ministry fiercely condemned the strikes, labelling them as “barbaric.”
The Houthis’ al-Masirah satellite news channel aired disturbing footage, showing corpses scattered across the site. The news channel also reported that both the paramedic and civilian staff of the port had died due to the attack.
The attack led to a huge explosion as well as fires. As of March 15th, the US has launched air strikes on the Houthis, almost on a daily basis.
The US air strikes on Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen caused a death toll of at least 57 people, Al Jazeera reported on March 28th. US National Security Advisor Michael Waltz confirmed that some of the US strikes targeted various Houthi figures.
Abdul Malik al-Houthi claimed the group’s forces executed nearly 80 missions with roughly 170 missiles and drones since the middle of March. These include 30 assaults on the USS Harry S Truman as well as 26 attacks on Israel.
BBC, France 24 via Reuters
