Middle East: Huthi: 68 migrants killed in US air attack in Yemen

According to the Huthi militia there, at least 68 migrants were killed in a suspected US air attack in Yemen. 47 others were injured, the Ministry of the Interior controlled by the militia said. The information could initially not be checked independently, and the US military did not initially comment on the attack.

The Huthi-close television station al-Masirah reported that around 100 migrants from African countries were housed in the internment camp in the northern province of Saada. According to Huthi, all people housed in the camp would have been killed or injured by the attack.

The International Committee from the Red Cross (IKRK) said that rescuers of the local aid organization Yemenite red crescent moon were in action at the camp. These tried to take care of injuries and bring them to hospitals.

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) was deeply affected and said that many migrants were presumably killed or injured. However, the IOM did not work on the facility itself, said an IOM spokeswoman for the German Press Agency. The Huthi militia, on the other hand, announced that the facility was under the supervision of the IOM and the Red Cross.

Migrants are often exposed to violence in Yemen

According to its own statements, the US military has so far attacked more than 800 destinations in Yemen and also killed “hundreds of Huthi fighters” and also leader. The risk of civilians in the attacks is “reduced to a minimum”, the responsible US central command said at night. Centcom did not speak specifically for the incident.

Because of the civil war in Yemen, the supply there is catastrophic, around 20 million people are dependent on humanitarian aid. Every year tens of thousands of migrants come mainly from Ethiopia and Somalia, who want to continue to Saudi Arabia and strand in Yemen. According to IOM, they are often exposed to violence and abuse.

Al-Masirah: “Massive Damage” in the warehouse

The US attack has caused “massive damage” to the camp, reported al-Masirah. Savior therefore had difficulty reaching the victims under rubble. The broadcaster showed pictures of a completely destroyed house in which body parts and injuries were seen between rubble.

The Ministry of the Interior, controlled by the militia, spoke of a “hideous crime” of the United States.

Since the beginning of the Gaza War in October 2023, the Huthi from Yemen Israel and commercial and military ships in the Red Sea. According to their own representation, they want to support the Palestinians in Gaza in the fight against Israel and the allies. The US military has been attacking Huthi positions in Yemen for months with the declared goal of protecting international shipping and trade.