U.S. Airstrike in Yemen Kills Dozens at Migrant Detention Center

Saada, Yemen — At least 68 people were killed in a U.S. airstrike on a detention center for African migrants in northwestern Yemen, according to Houthi-run media. The airstrike occurred on Sunday, killing many individuals and injuring 47 others, most critically.

The Houthi-affiliated TV channel, Al Masirah, reported graphic footage showing bodies among the rubble of the destroyed facility. This incident comes soon after U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced its forces had attacked over 800 targets in Yemen since March, as part of a campaign to pressure the Houthi movement.

There was no immediate response from U.S. military officials regarding this specific airstrike. However, CENTCOM confirmed earlier this week the strikes aimed at harming Houthi operational capabilities.

Since President Trump ordered the intensified airstrikes on March 15, the attacks have reportedly killed hundreds of Houthi fighters. While U.S. forces did not acknowledge civilian casualties, Houthi authorities claimed many civilians have died, including those at the migrant detention center.

The detention center had been holding around 100 migrants, primarily from Ethiopia and other African nations, who attempted to cross Yemen en route to seek work in Saudi Arabia. The situation for these migrants is perilous, as Houthi rebels often exploit their vulnerability and smuggle them for profit.

The U.N. has been monitoring strikes against similar facilities. Last year, a Saudi-led coalition airstrike also targeted a migrant detention center, resulting in significant casualties. U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres expressed grave concern about the latest airstrikes, emphasizing the need to protect civilian lives.

As the U.S. continues its military campaign in Yemen amid the ongoing civil war, humanitarian conditions continue to deteriorate, with millions needing assistance. Observers have highlighted that attacks like these raise serious questions surrounding adherence to international humanitarian law.

This ongoing conflict has led to devastating results, with estimates of over 150,000 lives lost and millions displaced since the war escalated in 2014. Yemen’s humanitarian crisis is one of the worst in the world.

The recent events underscore the tragic toll of the ongoing conflict and the urgent need for a diplomatic resolution to bring peace to a region deeply scarred by violence.