Death toll rises to 38 in US attack on Houthi-controlled port
US warplanes launch a series of airstrikes on Yemen, the Houthi group reported on March 28, 2025. (CENTCOM/AA Photo)
At least 38 people were killed and 102 others injured when U.S. forces struck a key oil facility in Yemen, Houthis said Friday, in what appears to be one of the deadliest attacks in the monthlong American air campaign.
The death toll, reported by the Houthis’ al-Masirah TV, citing health authorities in Hodeida, represents a significant increase from earlier estimates of 20 fatalities.
The U.S. military confirmed it had targeted the Ras Issa fuel port in an operation aimed at cutting off supplies and funding for the Iran-backed Houthis, who have been launching attacks on shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden since late 2023.
“U.S. 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,” U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said in a statement.
The military command added that the “objective of these strikes was to degrade the economic source of power of the Houthis, who continue to exploit and bring great pain upon their fellow countrymen.”
Death toll rises to 38 as 102 injured
Houthi health ministry spokesman Anees Alasbahi had earlier reported 20 deaths, including five paramedics, but warned the toll was “likely to rise as body parts are still being identified.”
Footage broadcast by Houthis’ Al-Masira channel showed a massive fireball erupting near ships at the port, with thick columns of smoke rising from what appeared to be an ongoing blaze.
“Civil defence rescue teams and paramedics are making every effort to search for and extract victims and extinguish the fire,” Alasbahi said on X, formerly Twitter.
Ongoing maritime conflict in Yemen
The U.S. has been conducting near-daily air strikes against Houthi targets since March 15, seeking to halt the rebels’ campaign of attacks on commercial and military vessels in critical shipping lanes.
The Houthis began targeting ships in the region in late 2023, claiming their actions were in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza following the outbreak of war between Israel and Hamas in October.
These attacks have severely disrupted shipping through the Suez Canal—a vital route that normally carries about 12% of world trade—forcing many companies to reroute vessels around southern Africa at significant cost.
Broader regional tensions
The conflict shows signs of wider regional involvement. Israel’s military reported Friday that it had intercepted a missile launched from Yemen, while France announced that one of its frigates in the Red Sea had destroyed a drone launched from Yemeni territory on Thursday.
Meanwhile, U.S. State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce accused a Chinese satellite firm, Chang Guang Satellite Technology Company, of “directly supporting Iran-backed Houthi terrorist attacks on U.S. interests” by providing satellite imagery to the Houthis.
The Biden administration initiated the military campaign against the Houthis, and President Trump has pledged to continue operations until the Houthis no longer pose a threat to shipping.
CENTCOM said ships “have continued to supply fuel via the port of Ras Issa” despite Washington designating the Houthis a foreign terrorist organization earlier this year.
