Fri Mar 28 02:21:23 UTC 2025: ## US Airstrikes Intensify in Yemen: Houthi Targets Pummelled
**Dubai, March 28, 2025** – A wave of suspected US airstrikes targeted Houthi rebel-controlled sites across Yemen early Friday, marking a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict. The strikes, which appear more extensive than previous operations under the Biden administration, hit areas including the capital Sanaa, the port city of Hodeida, and the rebel stronghold of Saada.
While the US military’s Central Command has yet to officially confirm the strikes – a departure from previous transparency – reports indicate a particularly intense barrage compared to earlier days of the campaign, which began March 15th. Initial reports from the Houthis suggest at least seven injuries in Sanaa alone. The al-Masirah satellite news network reported at least 19 strikes in one area, causing communication outages.
The increased intensity of the strikes, which reportedly include attacks on ranking Houthi personnel in addition to military sites, follows the Houthis’ recent threat to target Israeli ships in response to Israeli restrictions on aid to Gaza. Between November 2023 and January 2025, the Houthis attacked over 100 merchant vessels, sinking two and killing four sailors. They have also launched attacks against US warships, though none have been hit.
The expanded US offensive, authorized by the White House to strike offensively without pre-approval, appears to be a shift in strategy from the previous administration. The scale of the current operation raises concerns about potential civilian casualties, given that many targeted areas are densely populated. The extent of the damage and casualties remains unclear. The campaign, which began March 15th resulting in at least 57 initial deaths, is raising tensions further in a conflict that has ravaged Yemen for a decade.
First Piper 