US Airstrikes on Ras Isa Oil Port in Hodeidah Kill 38, Injure Over 100

In a significant escalation of the conflict in Yemen, the death toll from US airstrikes targeting the Ras Isa oil port in Hodeidah province has risen to 38, with over 100 others injured—most of them workers at the facility—according to health authorities under Houthi control.

The Health Office in Hodeidah reported that the number of casualties is expected to increase as rescue efforts continue and victims are retrieved from the debris. The strikes, launched on Thursday evening, involved 14 air raids and resulted in the complete destruction of the oil facility and massive fires.

The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed the operation, stating the strikes aimed to weaken the Houthis' economic power by destroying their sources of funding, including fuel revenues that are used to support military activities.

Ras Isa port is considered one of the most critical infrastructure sites in Yemen, serving as a key entry point for fuel imports and humanitarian aid. The attack has raised fears of deepening the humanitarian crisis in the country.

The Houthi group denounced the airstrikes as a “war crime” and a violation of Yemen’s sovereignty, vowing to retaliate. Reports suggested that a missile was launched toward Israel in response, which was intercepted by Israeli air defenses.

These attacks are part of a broader US campaign, launched in mid-March, to dismantle the military and financial capabilities of the Iranian-backed Houthis following their repeated drone and missile attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.

This particular strike is among the deadliest since the campaign began, sparking global concern about the potential humanitarian and political consequences for Yemen and the region.

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