A deadly airstrike by the United States on a migrant detention facility in north-western Yemen has resulted in the deaths of at least 68 African migrants, according to reports from the Houthi-controlled Al Masirah TV channel.
The attack, which occurred in Saada province, also left 47 others critically wounded.
Disturbing footage showed numerous bodies buried under the debris of the bombed building.
The US military has yet to comment on the strike, which occurred shortly after US Central Command (Centcom) disclosed that its forces had targeted over 800 sites since mid-March, following President Donald Trump’s directive to intensify airstrikes against Houthi forces.
These strikes, according to Centcom, have resulted in the deaths of numerous Houthi fighters, including high-ranking leaders involved in missile and drone operations.
While Houthi authorities have claimed that US airstrikes have killed many civilians, they have reported minimal casualties among Houthi fighters.
The migrant detention centre in Saada was said to have been housing 115 African migrants at the time of the bombing on Sunday night.
Despite the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Yemen, many migrants continue to arrive from the Horn of Africa, often attempting to cross into Saudi Arabia in search of work.
However, they often face violence, exploitation, and detainment in a country plagued by conflict.
In 2024, nearly 60,900 migrants arrived in Yemen, many of whom had no resources to survive.
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) highlights the dangers these migrants face, including the risk of being caught in active conflict zones.
Earlier this month, a series of US airstrikes on the Ras Isa oil terminal, located on the Red Sea coast, killed at least 74 people and injured 171 others.
The Houthi authorities claimed the terminal was a civilian facility, calling the strikes a “war crime.”
However, Centcom stated that the strikes destroyed Ras Isa’s ability to process fuel, which would hinder the Houthis’ military operations and their revenue generation.
In March, President Trump ordered large-scale attacks on Houthi-controlled areas, warning that the group would face “complete annihilation.”
The US has also warned Iran against supplying the Houthis with arms, a claim Iran has denied.
Trump’s administration re-designated the Houthis as a “Foreign Terrorist Organization,” reversing a decision by the Biden administration that had removed the designation to alleviate Yemen’s humanitarian crisis.
Yemen’s civil war, which began in 2014, has caused immense destruction and displacement.
The conflict intensified when the Houthis took control of Yemen’s northwest, prompting a Saudi-led coalition, supported by the US, to intervene in an attempt to reinstate the internationally-recognized government.
The war has killed more than 150,000 people, displaced 4.8 million, and left 19.5 million in urgent need of humanitarian aid.