Dozens Dead in Yemen Migrant Facility Strike Amid U.S. Military Campaign

A recent airstrike reportedly targeting a Houthi-controlled migrant center in Yemen has resulted in the deaths of numerous African migrants, with conflicting accounts from the Houthis and U.S. military officials regarding responsibility for the resulting civilian casualties.

Dozens of people were killed in an attack on a migrant facility in Houthi-controlled northern Yemen, according to reports from the Iran-backed militia and humanitarian officials on Monday. The Houthis claimed that an American airstrike targeted what they identified as a migrant center in Saada, resulting in the deaths of at least 68 African migrants. The U.S. military has not immediately responded to inquiries regarding these claims.

This tragic incident occurred shortly after the U.S. military reported conducting over 800 strikes in Yemen since mid-March aimed at countering the Houthi forces. Although the campaign has focused on various military targets—including command centers, air defenses, and weapons storage—officials made no mention of civilian casualties in their statements. The Houthis have countered that more than 100 civilians have died, condemning the latest bombing operation as a "heinous crime against African migrants."

Conflicting narratives surrounding civilian fatalities were evident when a U.S. Central Command spokesperson last week attributed an explosion in Yemen's capital, which resulted in 12 deaths, to a misfired Houthi missile, countering the Houthis' claims of an American strike.

On Monday, graphic footage from al-Masirah, a news outlet controlled by the Houthis, depicted the aftermath of the attack with bodies lying among the debris in Saada. Aid officials indicated that along with the fatalities, at least 40 additional migrants were injured, but their statements were made under conditions of anonymity to further verify the attack's circumstances.

Every year, tens of thousands of African migrants risk the dangerous journey across the strait separating the Horn of Africa from the Arabian Peninsula, seeking better opportunities in the Gulf States. As of 2024, nearly 60,900 migrants have reached Yemen, as reported by the International Organization for Migration.

Over the past year, the Houthis have also launched attacks on Israel and targeted vessels in the Red Sea, which they claim is in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. The U.S. intensified its bombing operations against the Houthis starting March 15, as part of President Trump's campaign to neutralize the threats posed by the militia.