At least 12 people were killed and 30 injured in U.S. airstrikes targeting a busy market in Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, on Sunday, according to health authorities affiliated with the Houthi group. Rescue teams continue to search for survivors under rubble in the Shu’ub neighborhood’s Farwah market, described by Houthi-run al-Masirah TV as a key commercial hub.
The strikes were part of a broader wave of attacks across Sanaa and its surroundings, occurring days after another U.S. operation reportedly struck the Ras Isa fuel port in western Yemen last Thursday. Local Houthi officials claimed that earlier strike killed 80 people, left 170 wounded, and caused environmental damage from fuel spills into the Red Sea.
Tensions between the U.S. and the Houthi group have intensified since mid-March, when Washington resumed military operations in Yemen, aiming to deter attacks on Israel-linked vessels and U.S. warships in strategic Red Sea lanes. The Houthis, who control northern Yemen, describe their actions as resistance against Israel’s military operations in Gaza and efforts to lift aid blockades there.
Analysts warn the conflict risks further destabilizing regional trade routes and exacerbating humanitarian crises in Yemen, already grappling with food insecurity due to years of civil war. The Red Sea, a vital corridor for global shipping, has seen disruptions as hostilities escalate.
