Sanaa [Yemen]: Yemen’s Houthi rebels have vowed to continue their military operations against Israel and the United States in the wake of deadly US airstrikes on the Ras Isa oil port, which killed at least 74 people and injured 171, according to reports from CNN and Al Jazeera.
In a strongly worded statement, the Houthi-controlled armed forces reaffirmed their commitment to what they described as “support operations” for the Palestinian people, pledging not to back down until the Israeli offensive on Gaza ends and the blockade is lifted.
“Yemen will not back down from continuing its support operations for the Palestinian people until the Israeli aggression on Gaza stops and the siege is lifted,” the Houthis said.
The group also warned that continued US military actions would only provoke “further targeting, engagement, and confrontation.”
US Confirms Intent to Weaken Houthi Economic Power
The US Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed that Thursday’s strikes targeted the Houthis’ fuel infrastructure at the Ras Isa terminal, aiming to cripple their economic resources and diminish their operational capability.
“Today, US forces took action to eliminate this source of fuel for the Iran-backed Houthi terrorists… The objective of these strikes was to degrade the economic source of power of the Houthis,” CENTCOM said in a post on social media.
The Ras Isa strike marked one of the deadliest US attacks in Yemen, with 74 confirmed fatalities and over 170 injured. Local health authorities in Hodeidah reported that at least 38 were killed and over 100 injured in the port strike alone.
Red Sea Tensions Continue
The United States has ramped up its air campaign against the Houthis since mid-March, targeting missile sites, airports, and refineries across Houthi-controlled regions.
The Houthis, backed by Iran, have launched missiles toward Israel and disrupted Red Sea shipping routes, claiming these actions are part of their solidarity with Palestinians amid the ongoing Gaza conflict, which escalated after the October 7, 2023 Hamas attacks on Israel.
Former US President Donald Trump earlier vowed to use “overwhelming force” to stop the Houthis from threatening regional stability and maritime navigation.