Egypt Daily News – The White House announced that ongoing threats from the Houthis have forced American ships to avoid passing through the Red Sea, vowing more strikes against the Iran-backed group. This comes hours after the Houthis accused Washington of carrying out airstrikes on Sana’a that killed one civilian and injured 13 others, including children.
One person was killed and 13 others, including three children, were injured on Sunday night in strikes that targeted a residential building in the Yemeni capital, Sana’a, according to the Houthis. They accused the United States of carrying out the attack, while the White House confirmed its continued use of “overwhelming force” against the Iran-backed group.
Houthi spokesman Anis Al-Asbahi stated that “a citizen was martyred, and 13 others, including three children, were injured in the final toll of the American aggression on a residential building in the Asr area of Ma’in district.” Footage captured by an AFP correspondent at the scene showed rubble from a building that appeared to have been completely destroyed.
The United States has not officially confirmed its responsibility for the strikes in Sana’a. However, a U.S. military official stated that “the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) is conducting daily and nightly strikes against multiple Houthi targets.”
Earlier, the White House reaffirmed the continuation of U.S. military operations against the Houthis, which began on March 15, vowing to continue using “overwhelming force” to stop the group from targeting shipping vessels in the vital maritime routes of the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. On the first day of the strikes, Washington announced the killing of Houthi commanders, while the Houthi-controlled Ministry of Health reported 53 casualties.
Tensions escalated after the Houthis declared earlier this month that they were reimposing a blockade on Israeli-affiliated ships in the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. This was in response to the resumption of Israeli military operations in Gaza. The group stated that the blockade would remain in place until Israel opens Gaza’s crossings and allows the entry of food, medicine, and humanitarian aid.
The Houthis had previously carried out dozens of attacks on Israeli targets and commercial ships during the war between Israel and Hamas in recent months, claiming that these actions were in “solidarity with the Palestinians.” These attacks ceased when the Gaza ceasefire took effect in January 2025.
However, in recent days, the group has resumed attacks on Israel and vowed further escalation in response to developments in Gaza. This prompted the White House to reaffirm its commitment to countering what it described as “Houthi threats to security and stability in the region.”
