CNN
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US airstrikes at oil ports in western Yemen killed at least 38 people, Houthi-run Al-Masirah TV reported on Friday.
The US Central Command said Thursday that the strike at the RAS ISA fuel port in Hodeida state was intended to reduce Houthis’ revenues, adding that the port is being used as a source of illegal profits for the group.
“The purpose of these strikes was to break down the source of Houchys’ economic power, which continues to exploit our fellow compatriots and bring about great pain,” the US Central Command said in a statement. “This strike was not intended to hurt the people of Yemen.”
Al Masilah reported that all those killed were port workers and that the strikes injured 102 people, citing the regional office of Houthi-Run Health Ministry.
CNN contacted the Pentagon for comment on reported tolls.
Since mid-March, US airstrikes have hit Yemen’s Houthi targets, crashing into oil refineries, airports and missile sites, until the US president vows to use “overwhelming force” and achieves its goal of stopping the US from targeting shipments in the Red Sea.
Houthis fired numerous missiles at Israel, disrupting transport in the Red Sea by what they say is that there is solidarity with the Palestinians over Israeli war in Gaza since the attack on October 7, 2023.
Videos aired on Al-Masirah show that he was receiving treatment for injuries sustained at a hospital after dawn.
“Several air raids have targeted the area,” the man who identified himself as a civil defense worker told Almasila that he was lying on the examination table and breathing violently. “I noticed it was falling to the ground as a rocket hit.”
Another survivor of the hospital described the moment the port was struck.
“Strikes after strike, the entire area was on fire,” he told Al Masila. “When we managed to leave the area, we saw a previously hidden spot.”
The US says its campaign is working. National security adviser Mike Waltz said several Hooty leaders were killed.
CNN previously reported that the total cost of US military operations against Houthi extremists in Yemen had approached $1 billion in three weeks, but the attack had previously affected the group’s capabilities, according to three people who were briefed in the campaign.
Analysts say that as many as 80 Houthi military officers may have been killed, but their military and political leadership senior ranks appear to remain the same. At least some of the missile launch sites.
The Houthi-Run Health Ministry said Monday that the US attack killed at least 123 people, including women and children, and 247 have been injured since March 15, the Houthi Run Saba News Agency reported. CNN cannot verify numbers individually.
Meanwhile, Houthis continues to launch more than 12 ballistic missiles in Israel, and barrages of drones and missiles on US naval vessels. Nothing causes any major damage, but the threat remains.
Earlier on Friday, Israeli forces said they had intercepted missiles from Yemen. No injuries have been reported, Israeli emergency services said.
Reported by Nadeen Ebrahim, Tim Lister and Dana Karni of CNN.