Houthis report 2 dead in US strike in contrast to Trump’s video which suggests a bloodier version | World News
Suspected US airstrikes killed at least two people and wounded four others overnight in Yemen’s northern Saada province, according to Houthi rebels. However, a drone video posted US President Donald Trump suggests the casualty count could be far higher.
The Iranian-backed Houthis aired footage via their al-Masirah satellite channel, showing the collapse of what they described as a two-story solar power shop. No images from inside the building were shared.
In a 25-second black-and-white drone video posted early on Saturday, Trump showed what appeared to be a gathering of dozens of people—followed a massive explosion and crater.
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“These Houthis gathered for instructions on an attack,” Trump wrote in the caption. “Oops, there will be no attack these Houthis! They will never sink our ships again!”
The footage does not reveal the exact location or date of the strike. The US Central Command and the White House have not commented on the post.
Houthi news agency calls strike a hit on Eid gathering
The Houthi-run SABA news agency described the strike as targeting a “social Eid visit” in Hodeida governorate, where Muslims had gathered to mark the end of Ramadan. The agency claimed those killed had “no connection” to ongoing Houthi military operations but did not refer to the victims as civilians—implying possible ties to rebel forces.
SABA also reported that the attack killed and wounded “dozens.”Story continues below this ad
Mohammed al-Basha, a Yemen analyst at the Basha Report, said social media posts of condolence suggest a senior Houthi police colonel in Hodeida and his two brothers may have been among the dead. “The strikes have expanded significantly, hitting multiple governorates simultaneously,” al-Basha told AP.
Intensifying US airstrikes
The US air campaign, revived and intensified under Trump, follows months of Houthi drone and missile attacks on commercial and military vessels in the Red Sea.
From November 2023 to January 2024, the rebels launched attacks on more than 100 merchant vessels, sinking two and killing at least four sailors.
Trump re-designated the Houthis as a Foreign Terror Organization in January. Since then, the US has carried out daily airstrikes against the Iranian-backed rebels, especially after renewed threats to Israeli vessels and US warships.Story continues below this ad
Late last month, the Houthis claimed responsibility for attacks on the USS Harry S. Truman and other US naval assets. They also shot down three MQ-9 Reaper drones in March, prompting new sanctions from the US State Department targeting the group’s financial and procurement networks.
While the US continues to hammer Houthi positions, Trump also issued a warning to Tehran, stating that if Houthi attacks do not cease, Washington could target Iran next.
(With inputs from AP)
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