On April 28, 2025, a U.S. airstrike targeted a Houthi-operated detention center in Saada, Yemen, resulting in the deaths of at least 68 African migrants and injuring 47 others. The facility housed 115 migrants, primarily from Ethiopia and Somalia. This incident has intensified global concern over civilian casualties in military operations.

The airstrike is part of Operation Rough Rider, a U.S. military campaign initiated on March 15, 2025, aimed at degrading the Houthis' capabilities following their attacks on Red Sea shipping lanes. The targeted detention center had previously been struck in 2022 by a Saudi-led coalition airstrike. The U.S. military has acknowledged awareness of civilian casualty reports and is conducting an assessment.

The Houthis, officially known as Ansar Allah, are a Shia Islamist militant group based in Yemen. Emerging in the 1990s, they have been engaged in a protracted conflict against the Saudi-backed Yemeni government. Since 2014, the Houthis have controlled significant portions of northern Yemen, including the capital, Sanaa. They are backed by Iran and are considered part of the Iranian-led Axis of Resistance. The group's official motto is "God is great, death to the US, death to Israel, curse the Jews, and victory for Islam."

Initiated on March 15, 2025, Operation Rough Rider is a large-scale U.S. military campaign targeting Houthi infrastructure in Yemen. The operation aims to degrade the Houthis' capabilities, particularly in response to their attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. The U.S. military has conducted over 800 strikes since the operation began, targeting command-and-control facilities, air defense systems, and weapons storage locations. The campaign has reportedly resulted in the deaths of hundreds of Houthi fighters and leaders.

The airstrike on April 28 targeted a detention center in Saada, Yemen, housing 115 African migrants, primarily from Ethiopia and Somalia. The facility had previously been struck in 2022 by a Saudi-led coalition airstrike. The recent U.S. airstrike resulted in at least 68 fatalities and 47 injuries among the detainees. The U.S. military has acknowledged awareness of civilian casualty reports and is conducting an assessment.

The airstrike has drawn significant international concern. Houthi spokesperson Mohammed Abdulsalam condemned the attack as a "brutal crime." UN spokesman Stéphane Dujarric labeled the attack "deeply alarming" and urged all parties to protect civilians. Christine Cipolla, head of the Red Cross delegation in Yemen, stated, "It is unthinkable that while people are detained and have nowhere to escape, they can also be caught in the line of fire."

The airstrike underscores the vulnerability of migrants in conflict zones. Yemen serves as a transit point for many African migrants seeking better opportunities in Gulf countries. These individuals often face detention and mistreatment. The incident highlights the broader humanitarian crisis in Yemen, where civilians, including migrants, are caught in the crossfire of ongoing conflicts.

This is not the first time a migrant detention center in Saada has been targeted. In 2022, a Saudi-led coalition airstrike hit the same facility, resulting in numerous casualties. The recurrence of such incidents raises questions about the effectiveness of measures taken to protect civilian facilities in conflict zones.

The recent U.S. airstrike on the migrant detention center in Yemen has intensified international scrutiny of military operations in conflict zones, particularly concerning civilian casualties. As Operation Rough Rider continues, the global community remains watchful of the humanitarian implications and the broader impact on regional stability.