A deadly US military strike on a detention centre in Yemen has killed at least 68 people and injured 47, according to reports from Houthi-affiliated media. The attack, which took place in the Saada governorate — a stronghold of the Houthi rebels — targeted a facility holding African migrants, many of whom had risked their lives to travel through Yemen on their way to work in Saudi Arabia.
The migrant detention centre was reportedly holding around 115 individuals from Ethiopia and other African nations at the time of the strike. The victims, who had been detained during their perilous journey through Yemen, were hoping to find work as laborers or domestic staff in the Gulf countries. The tragedy occurred as part of the ongoing, decade-long conflict that continues to affect migrants crossing Yemen in search of better opportunities.
The US military’s Central Command (CENTCOM) has acknowledged conducting numerous strikes in Yemen since mid-March, with over 800 targets hit. However, CENTCOM has not commented specifically on the recent attack, nor on civilian casualties. Houthi-run media outlets, including Al Masirah TV, aired graphic footage showing bodies and injured individuals at the site of the attack. Rescue operations are ongoing, as humanitarian groups work to assist the wounded and recover the dead.
Why are African migrants in Yemen at risk?
Many African migrants, mainly from Ethiopia, travel through Yemen in hopes of reaching the oil-rich Gulf countries for work. However, their journey is fraught with danger, including the risk of detention, abuse by the Houthis, and now, as shown by this airstrike, the threat of violence amid Yemen’s ongoing civil war.
Each year, tens of thousands of migrants risk their lives along the Eastern Route, sailing across the Red Sea and traversing conflict zones in Yemen. Their goal is to find work in the Gulf, but they often face exploitation by traffickers and authorities, adding to the already severe challenges they face.
The Houthis, accused of detaining and exploiting migrants, are reported to profit from smuggling operations that move these migrants across Yemen’s borders. This illegal trafficking adds a layer of danger for those fleeing poverty, conflict, and environmental disasters in East Africa.
This attack highlights the broader humanitarian crisis in Yemen, where civilians, including vulnerable migrants, continue to bear the brunt of the conflict. While the US military has primarily targeted Houthi positions, the civilian death toll continues to rise, raising questions about the effectiveness and morality of such airstrikes in a warzone.