Dozens of people were killed in an attack on a migrant facility in Houthi-controlled northern Yemen, as reported by the Iran-backed militia and aid officials on Monday.
The Houthi militia claimed that an American airstrike targeted what they described as a migrant center in Saada, resulting in the deaths of at least 68 African migrants. The U.S. military has not yet responded to requests for comment regarding this allegation.
This incident followed a statement from the U.S. military indicating that American forces had conducted over 800 strikes in Yemen since mid-March as part of a campaign against the Houthis. The military described the campaign as targeting various military facilities but did not address civilian casualties.
Houthi officials reported that more than 100 civilians have died due to recent strikes and condemned the latest attack as a "heinous crime against African migrants."
There have been conflicting claims from the Houthis and the U.S. military regarding civilian casualties from recent strikes. A spokesman for the U.S. Central Command stated that a lethal explosion on April 20 in the Yemeni capital was caused by a misfired Houthi missile, countering the Houthi claim that it was due to an American strike.
Graphic footage aired by the Houthi-controlled al-Masirah news channel displayed bodies among the rubble in Saada. In addition to those killed, at least 40 migrants sustained injuries, according to two anonymous aid officials in Yemen who are verifying the incident.
The Houthis asserted that the migrant center was operated under the supervision of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), a statement that both organizations have denied.
The IOM clarified that it was not managing the facility but was monitoring the situation and prepared to provide support as needed. The ICRC also stated it did not oversee the facility, though teams from the Yemen Red Crescent Society were assisting in evacuating the injured to nearby hospitals.
Both the IOM and the ICRC withdrew from Saada earlier this year after the United Nations suspended operations in Houthi-controlled areas.
Annually, tens of thousands of African migrants attempt the treacherous journey across the narrow strait between the Horn of Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, aiming for affluent Gulf States north of Yemen. In 2024, nearly 60,900 migrants have already arrived in Yemen, according to the IOM.
The ongoing conflict and political instability in Yemen have rendered it a perilous destination for migrants, who face exploitation, abuse, and sexual violence, according to aid organizations.
In the past year, the Houthis have launched rockets and drones at Israel and targeted ships in the Red Sea, citing their actions as solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.
The United States has ramped up its bombing campaign against the Houthis since March 15, under directives from President Trump, who has pledged to continue military actions until the Houthi threat is neutralized.
On Monday, Yahya Saree, the Houthis’ military representative, promised in a televised statement that the group would persist in launching attacks in the Red Sea.