US airstrikes kill 38 in Yemen’s Ras Isa oil port, say Houthis
Yemen's Houthi rebels said US airstrikes on the Ras Isa oil port on Friday killed at least 38 people and wounded 102 others, marking one of the deadliest attacks in the month-long American air campaign.
“Thirty-eight workers and employees killed and 102 others injured in a preliminary toll of the US aggression on the Ras Issa oil facility,” the Houthis' al-Masirah TV reported, citing health authorities in the rebel-held Hodeida governorate.
The strikes, part of a wider operation launched by the Trump administration in mid-March, were confirmed by US Central Command, though no casualty figures were provided. The US military said the attack targeted key fuel infrastructure used by the Iran-backed Houthis to fund what it described as a “decade-long campaign of terror” across the region.
According to Al Masirah, the Houthis' satellite news network, the strike triggered a massive explosion and fire, with footage showing charred bodies, rescue workers scrambling through debris, and thick plumes of smoke rising from the coastal facility. The fire was visible on NASA satellite imagery.
The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) said the operation was not aimed at civilians, but at undermining the Houthis’ ability to fund attacks on international shipping. “US forces took action to eliminate this source of fuel for the Iran-backed Houthi terrorists and deprive them of illegal revenue that has funded Houthi efforts to terrorize the entire region for over 10 years,” its statement said.
The Ras Isa facility, located on Yemen’s Red Sea coast in Hodeida, is the terminus of a pipeline from the oil-rich Marib region. Although largely inactive due to the years-long war, the Houthis have reportedly used the site to import fuel amid international sanctions and restrictions.
Since March 15, Washington has launched near-daily strikes against Houthi targets in response to rebel attacks on Red Sea shipping lanes. The Houthis have targeted more than 100 commercial vessels since late 2023, claiming their actions are in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. Two ships have been sunk and four sailors killed.
While earlier phases of the US campaign focused on missile launchers, the recent shift to hitting economic infrastructure marks a significant escalation. The Trump administration has linked the broader campaign to efforts to counter Iran and its regional influence.
The strike at Ras Isa also follows a State Department warning earlier this month advising against commercial activity at Houthi-controlled ports. The conflict has severely disrupted global shipping through the Red Sea and Suez Canal, forcing many vessels to reroute around Africa.
