US airstrikes on Yemen oil port claim 74 lives; 171 hurt

US strikes on Yemen’s Ras Isa fuel port killed at least 74 people in the deadliest attack since America launched its large-scale campaign against the Houthis last month, according to the Houthi-run health ministry.

The US has vowed to keep attacking Yemen’s Houthis, in its biggest military operation in the Middle East since President Donald Trump took office in January, unless the Houthis cease attacks on Red Sea shipping.

Health ministry spokesperson Anees al-Asbahi said 171 people were injured in Thursday’s strikes, according to preliminary figures, with rescue teams continuing efforts to search for victims.

The US military said the strikes were aimed at cutting off a source of fuel for the Houthi militant group.

Ras Isa terminal has a storage capacity of 3 million barrels and was the first port built for oil exports from Yemen, around 40 years ago.

US Central Command did not comment on the health ministry’s casualty figure.

“The objective of these strikes was to degrade the economic source of power of the Houthis, who continue to exploit and bring great pain upon their fellow countrymen,” it had said.

The Houthis have taken control of swathes of Yemen over the past decade. Since November 2023, the group has launched dozens of drone and missile attacks on vessels in the Red Sea. — Reuters