US allege that 1,000 strikes in Yemen hit Houthis, but many civilians also killed

The United States has ramped up its military campaign in Yemen, claiming it has struck “over 1,000 targets” since mid-March.

According to the US military, the air raids have killed a number of Houthi fighters and senior commanders, including officials linked to missile and drone operations. This could not be independently verified. 

The strikes, Washington alleges, aim to weaken the Houthis' military capabilities.

But on the ground, the toll tells a different story.

Houthi officials have accused the US of bombing civilian areas, including homes and infrastructure. The rebel group says women and children have been among the dead, painting a starkly different picture of the ongoing offensive.

The most recent and deadliest incident occurred in Yemen’s northern Saada province on Sunday. A US air strike targeted a detention facility holding African migrants, killing at least 68 people.

A spokesperson for the United Nations later confirmed that preliminary reports point to the victims being migrants.