Daijiworld Media Network - Yemen

Yemen, Apr 1: In a significant escalation, the Houthi group reported on Tuesday that US forces have conducted 22 airstrikes targeting their strongholds in Yemen’s northern Sanaa and Saada provinces. According to the Houthi-run al-Masirah TV, the airstrikes, which occurred over the past several hours, included five strikes at dawn on the Jarban area in the Sanhan district southeast of Sanaa, and two others hitting the Bani Matar district west of the capital. Additionally, 15 strikes targeted Saada, a known Houthi stronghold, though specific locations were not disclosed.

These airstrikes follow a series of US military operations in the region, which resumed on March 15 in an effort to deter Houthi attacks on Israeli targets, US military vessels, and international shipping lanes. The renewed strikes come on the heels of a deadly attack in Bani Qa'is, Yemen, on Monday, where two people were killed and a child injured by US airstrikes.

The Houthi response has been swift, reaffirming their continued support for Gaza and vowing to intensify attacks on Israeli targets and US vessels in the Red Sea. US President Donald Trump declared that the strikes would persist until the Houthis cease their aggression against American ships, warning that the group had already been severely weakened by the ongoing operations.

In another development, the Houthis claimed to have downed a US MQ-9 drone over Yemen's Marib province, using a locally-made missile. The drone's destruction marks another point of contention as both sides continue their military actions in the region.