The attack, characterized as a potential war crime, highlights the ongoing humanitarian crises and severe risks facing migrants in conflict zones.
**US Air Strikes Lead to Tragedy for African Migrants in Yemen**
**US Air Strikes Lead to Tragedy for African Migrants in Yemen**
A deadly US air strike on a detention center in Yemen has left dozens of African migrants dead, according to Houthi claims.
At least 68 African migrants have been reported killed following a US air strike targeting a detention center in the Saada province of Houthi-controlled Yemen, as stated by Houthi-run media outlet Al Masirah. Another 47 individuals sustained injuries, many of them critically, following the four separate bombings that occurred early Monday morning, shortly before 5:00 AM local time. Graphic footage broadcasted by Al Masirah depicts numerous bodies covered in rubble amidst the wreckage of the destroyed facility.
A US Central Command official acknowledged their awareness of the claims regarding civilian casualties, while the air strike's timing coincided with a major escalation in US military operations against the Houthis, ordered by President Donald Trump in mid-March. Pentagon reports indicated a significant increase in air strikes targeting over 800 sites in the region, resulting in the deaths of numerous Houthi fighters, yet reports of civilian casualties have been met with limited transparency from US officials.
The now-ruined migrant detention center was reportedly housing 115 individuals, primarily Ethiopians and some Somalis. Eyewitness accounts from first responders detailed the horror of the scene, with many bodies unrecognizable due to their condition. Ibrahim Cabdulqaadir Macallin, chairman of the Somali community in Yemen, condemned the attack, labeling it a "deliberate bombing" that constitutes a "war crime" according to the Houthi-run interior ministry.
In light of the attack, the International Organization for Migration expressed deep sorrow over the tragic loss of life and called for all involved in the conflict to prioritize civilian protection while adhering to international humanitarian laws. The rights of detained migrants remain precarious, communities are facing dire conditions with no official oversight, as migrants continue to arrive in Yemen, escaping dire situations at home.
Despite the ongoing conflict that has devastated Yemen for over a decade, the Houthi group remains active, retaliating against what they term "aggression" from US forces. The group's military spokesperson has confirmed strikes targeting US naval assets in response to the air attacks. The persistent unrest has left millions displaced, highlighting a humanitarian disaster unfolding in a nation struggling for survival amid years of violence and turmoil exacerbated by international interventions.
A US Central Command official acknowledged their awareness of the claims regarding civilian casualties, while the air strike's timing coincided with a major escalation in US military operations against the Houthis, ordered by President Donald Trump in mid-March. Pentagon reports indicated a significant increase in air strikes targeting over 800 sites in the region, resulting in the deaths of numerous Houthi fighters, yet reports of civilian casualties have been met with limited transparency from US officials.
The now-ruined migrant detention center was reportedly housing 115 individuals, primarily Ethiopians and some Somalis. Eyewitness accounts from first responders detailed the horror of the scene, with many bodies unrecognizable due to their condition. Ibrahim Cabdulqaadir Macallin, chairman of the Somali community in Yemen, condemned the attack, labeling it a "deliberate bombing" that constitutes a "war crime" according to the Houthi-run interior ministry.
In light of the attack, the International Organization for Migration expressed deep sorrow over the tragic loss of life and called for all involved in the conflict to prioritize civilian protection while adhering to international humanitarian laws. The rights of detained migrants remain precarious, communities are facing dire conditions with no official oversight, as migrants continue to arrive in Yemen, escaping dire situations at home.
Despite the ongoing conflict that has devastated Yemen for over a decade, the Houthi group remains active, retaliating against what they term "aggression" from US forces. The group's military spokesperson has confirmed strikes targeting US naval assets in response to the air attacks. The persistent unrest has left millions displaced, highlighting a humanitarian disaster unfolding in a nation struggling for survival amid years of violence and turmoil exacerbated by international interventions.
