The US military has announced the destruction of a key fuel port in Yemen that was under the control of Houthi rebels. According to the Yemeni rebels, the American airstrikes have killed at least 20 people and injured another 50.
The US Central Command (Centcom) stated that US forces targeted the Ras Isa port in order to deprive the Iran-backed Houthi rebels of a critical fuel supply source and to cut off one of their main revenue streams.
“The objective of these strikes was to weaken the economic resources of the Houthi rebels, who continue to exploit and inflict great suffering on their fellow countrymen,” Centcom said in a statement.
“This strike was not intended to harm the people of Yemen, who rightly seek freedom from Houthi oppression and desire to live in peace,” the US military added.
The airstrikes have dealt a significant blow to the Yemeni rebels. The US launched the aerial campaign under President Donald Trump’s directive on March 15, aiming to stop rebel attacks on commercial and military ships in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, as reported by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL).
The Houthi attacks have disrupted commercial shipping through the Suez Canal—a vital route for global maritime trade—forcing many companies to reroute.
The Houthi rebels have condemned the US strikes.
“This entirely unjustified aggression constitutes a blatant violation of Yemen’s sovereignty and independence and a direct assault on the Yemeni people,” they said in a statement via the state-run SABA agency, which is under rebel control. “It targeted a vital civilian facility that has served the Yemeni people for decades.”
Anees Alasbahi, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Health, reported that preliminary data indicated 20 deaths, including five emergency workers.
He also reported “50 injuries among workers at the Ras Isa oil port” following the US airstrikes.
“The number of victims is likely to rise as identification efforts continue,” Alasbahi added.
This casualty count represents the highest reported toll since President Trump pledged continued military action against the rebels until they no longer posed a threat to maritime navigation.
Ras Isa Port is located along Yemen’s western coastline, bordering the Red Sea.
Centcom confirmed that ships continued to be refueled through this port, despite the Houthis having been designated as a terrorist organization by Washington earlier this year.
