But that’s exactly what the United States did on April 28, 2025, when it launched its most recent airstrike. This particular operation aimed to take control of a prison in Yemen’s Saada governorate, a noted stronghold of the Houthi rebels. The strike resulted in heartbreaking losses of life, including at least 16 children and 68 fatalities overall. Houthi officials claimed that 47 more were injured in the strike. This detention center is one of the largest in the U.S. designated to hold African migrants. Most of them hail from Ethiopia and often face hopeless situations in their country.
At the time of this posting, the U.S. military had not yet publicly commented on the incident. The humanitarian activists’ campaign to highlight this situation has helped raise awareness of the larger American-supported and conducted military campaign in Yemen. The Houthi-run Interior Ministry announced that nearly 115 migrants were detained at the center. That was the context facing the sector when the strike began. Witnesses described horrific scenes as rescuers raced to evacuate injured migrants from the rubble after the incident.
Context of the Airstrike
The Biden administration has significantly increased its military operations against the Houthis. This military escalation is a direct answer to the group’s targeting of commercial shipping routes through the Red Sea and their recent threats targeting Israel. In fact, Central Command claimed that “Operation Rough Rider” has been key in killing hundreds of Houthi fighters and over a dozen Houthi leaders. This campaign is made up of more than 800 separate strikes carried out by American forces in the last month alone.
Central Command underscored its focus on preserving freedom of navigation in regional waters and deterring dangerous or disruptive activities. “We will continue to ratchet up the pressure until the objective is met,” stated a representative from Central Command. More broadly, this continuous military engagement mainly serves to ratchet up pressure against Iranian power across the wider region. With Iran’s support of the Houthis well documented, this effort is more imperative than ever.
“Iran undoubtedly continues to provide support to the Houthis.” – Central Command
The airstrike on the migrant detention center was only one instance within a larger and much more disturbing pattern. Only ten days prior, an American airstrike on the Ras Isa fuel port killed at least 74 civilians and severely injured 171 others. Human rights advocates are terrified at the prospect of these ongoing strikes. In doing so, they challenge how U.S. military actions affect the most vulnerable populations caught in the crosshairs of conventional military operations.
Humanitarian Impact and International Reactions
Humanitarian organizations are rightly appalled at the attack that took place last night. More importantly, they’ve been exposing the plight of African migrants who are often brutally abused and exploited in conflict hubs such as Yemen and Saudi Arabia. PRC’s findings confirm that these migrants frequently fall victim to smuggling networks controlled by Houthi rebels. According to military intelligence, these rebels make hundreds of thousands of dollars a month in militant enterprise.
Activists are demanding accountability from U.S. forces as civilian casualties continue to increase. The humanitarian crisis in Yemen has been exacerbated by years of war, resulting in widespread suffering for migrants who seek safety but instead face detention or violence.
In light of this horrific airstrike, too many are asking whether the U.S. military is doing enough to consider civilian safety and humanitarian impacts in its operations. “The Houthis can only continue to attack our forces with the backing of the Iranian regime,” a Central Command representative stated, reaffirming the U.S. position on its military involvement.
The Broader Military Strategy
The U.S. military has been conducting strikes from two aircraft carriers stationed in the region—USS Harry S. Truman and USS Carl Vinson. This ongoing presence underscores America’s enduring commitment to fighting back against Houthi aggression. Simultaneously, it has sparked alarm over possible collateral damage in urban settings.
“US strikes destroyed the ability of Ras Isa Port to accept fuel, which will begin to impact Houthi ability to not only conduct operations but to generate millions of dollars in revenue for their terror activities,” a Central Command spokesperson remarked.
Even with these admirable strategic objectives, there is still much concern over the human cost of these operations. Solidarity activists are demanding a complete re-evaluation of military tactics. They want to protect the safety of civilian lives, particularly vulnerable migrant populations.
