SAADA, Yemen – Yemen’s Houthi rebels have accused the United States of carrying out an airstrike on a prison holding African migrants in the country’s Saada governorate, which killed and wounded some of the 100 detainees there.
The attack, which took place on Monday, April 28, 2025, has sparked outrage among migrant rights activists and raised questions about the ongoing US military involvement in Yemen.
The US military has yet to comment on the strike, and it is unclear whether American forces were responsible for the attack.
However, the US Central Command has reiterated its policy of withholding details about its extensive airstrike campaign in Yemen.
“To preserve operational security, we have intentionally limited disclosing details of our ongoing or future operations,” said a spokesperson for Central Command on Monday, April 28, 2025.
“We are very deliberate in our operational approach, but will not reveal specifics about what we’ve done or what we will do.”
According to the Houthis, a group of armed men attempted to breach the facility before a gunfight ensued, leading to an explosion that caused damage to the building and casualties.
Graphic footage aired by the Houthis’ al-Masirah channel showed bodies and wounded individuals at the site, with the sound of gunshots and voices offering prayers in the background.
While casualty figures are not yet confirmed, footage suggests the attack caused significant damage, with cement walls reportedly pocked by debris fragments.
“In the name of God,” a woman’s voice can be heard repeating on the footage, as medics attempted to help the wounded.
African migrants in Yemen have long been caught in the crossfire of the country’s brutal war.
Many migrants, primarily from Ethiopia, risked crossing the war-torn nation in hopes of reaching Saudi Arabia for work, often enduring abuse and mistreatment.
Some migrants have even been killed by Saudi or Yemeni security forces, including during artillery attacks near the border.
The alleged attack on the migrant facility has drawn attention to the plight of migrants in the region, who are frequently detained and exploited by criminal groups, including the Houthis.
In 2022, the UN reported that up to 430 migrants were killed in an attack by Saudi security forces, which Saudi Arabia has denied.
The US military, which has been involved in airstrikes against the Houthis as part of its “Operation Rough Rider,” acknowledged that it had conducted over 800 airstrikes as of this month.
According to Central Command, these airstrikes have killed hundreds of Houthi fighters and leaders, particularly targeting their missile and drone programs.
“We will continue to ratchet up the pressure until the objective is met, which remains the restoration of freedom of navigation and American deterrence in the region,” the statement from Central Command read.
The US has been involved in Yemen’s conflict primarily due to the Houthis’ attacks on shipping routes in the Red Sea, a vital international trade corridor, as well as their regular missile and drone strikes against Israel.
