A US airstrike on a migrant detention center in Yemen’s Saada province, controlled by Houthi forces, has left at least 68 African migrants and 47 othe
A US airstrike on a migrant detention center in Yemen’s Saada province, controlled by Houthi forces, has left at least 68 African migrants and 47 others dead, with many more critically injured, according to reports from Al Masirah, a Houthi-affiliated media outlet. The attack occurred in the early hours of Monday, just before 5:00 AM local time.
A US defense official confirmed awareness of civilian casualty claims, stating that Central Command is reviewing the incident. The strike follows an escalation in US military operations against the Houthis, with over 800 targets hit since mid-March, as ordered by then-President Donald Trump.
While US authorities claim the campaign has eliminated hundreds of Houthi fighters and key leaders, Houthi officials report that most casualties have been civilians. The detention center, housing 115 African migrants at the time, was struck four times, leaving the building in ruins. Footage from Al Masirah showed rescue teams pulling bodies from the rubble of the partially collapsed structure.
A survivor, hospitalized with injuries, told Al Masirah, “We were asleep when the strike hit us—that’s all.”
Ibrahim Cabdulqaadir Macallin, head of Yemen’s Somali community, visited the site and described the scene as “tragic and horrific,” with some victims burned beyond recognition. He noted that most detainees were Ethiopian, with only a few Somalis killed, as a group had been relocated days earlier. Macallin also emphasized that the facility was in an open area, distant from any military installations.
The Houthi-led Interior Ministry denounced the attack as a deliberate “war crime.” Meanwhile, the US defense official stated that Central Command is conducting a detailed investigation into the civilian harm allegations.
The UN’s International Organization for Migration (IOM) expressed deep sorrow over the incident, urging all parties to protect civilians and uphold international law. The Red Cross confirmed that local teams transported the wounded to hospitals and assisted in handling the deceased with dignity.
The strike has intensified scrutiny over civilian casualties in the ongoing conflict, raising concerns about adherence to humanitarian principles in military operations.
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