On Thursday, the U.S. military clarified that a blast that occurred on Sunday near the UNESCO World Heritage site in Yemen’s capital city of Sanaa was caused by a Houthi missile, not an American airstrike. This clarification comes after reports from the Houthi-run health ministry, which claimed that a dozen people were killed due to a U.S. strike in a neighborhood of Sanaa. The Old City of Sanaa, where the explosion occurred, is a UNESCO-recognized heritage site.
Houthi Missile Responsible for the Blast
The U.S. military disputed the claim, stating that while the damage and casualties reported by Houthi officials “likely did occur,” they were not the result of an American attack. A spokesperson for U.S. Central Command confirmed that the nearest U.S. strike that night took place more than three miles away from the location of the explosion. After reviewing local reports and videos, the U.S. military concluded that the blast was caused by a Houthi air defense missile. The fragments from the missile, which were documented in footage and contained Arabic writing, were reportedly found in a nearby market. Additionally, the Houthis have arrested Yemenis in connection with the incident, although the U.S. military has not provided further evidence to substantiate its findings.
Escalating Tensions and Civilian Casualties
Tensions between the U.S. and the Houthis have been rising due to ongoing military actions. Recent U.S. airstrikes have led to significant casualties, including 74 people killed in an attack on an oil terminal on Thursday, marking one of the deadliest strikes in Yemen under former President Trump’s administration. These attacks, according to the U.S. military, are aimed at undermining the Houthi militia’s military and economic capabilities. However, human rights advocates have raised concerns over the increasing number of civilian casualties, prompting three Democratic senators, including Chris Van Hollen, to call for an investigation into the loss of civilian lives.
The Houthis, who have controlled large parts of Yemen over the past decade, have escalated their military actions. Since November 2023, they have launched missile and drone strikes targeting vessels in the Red Sea, claiming that they were targeting ships associated with Israel. The Houthis argue that their actions are in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, where the ongoing conflict has caused over 51,000 deaths according to Gaza’s health ministry. The situation remains tense as the conflict in Gaza continues to fuel broader regional instability.
