SANAA: The Iran-backed Houthi militia in Yemen has announced the first civilian casualty resulting from recent joint US and British airstrikes conducted over the weekend. The Houthi’s official news agency reported that one person was killed and eight others were wounded in the attacks.
The airstrikes, carried out by US and British forces, targeted 18 locations across Yemen. The military action was a response to a series of Houthi drone and missile attacks on Red Sea shipping since November. The rebels claim that these attacks are in solidarity with Palestinians during the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
Late on Sunday, the Houthi-run health ministry issued a statement through their Saba agency, confirming the civilian casualties in the Maqbana district of the Taiz governorate. The report highlighted the impact of the “American-British aggression.”
The Houthi-controlled regions of war-torn Yemen have been previously affected by Western strikes, with the rebels reporting the deaths of 17 of their fighters in these attacks targeting military facilities.
The Houthi assaults have significantly disrupted traffic through the Red Sea route, prompting some companies to take a two-week detour around southern Africa. Last week, Egypt reported a decline of up to 50 percent in Suez Canal revenues this year.
In response to the escalating situation, the United States, a key ally of Israel, formed an international coalition in December to safeguard Red Sea traffic. The coalition has conducted multiple rounds of strikes, including joint operations with Britain, aimed at curbing Houthi aggression. Initially targeting Israel-linked shipping, the Houthi rebels later expanded their declared scope to include US and British interests as “legitimate” targets. The conflict continues to pose challenges to maritime trade routes and regional stability.
