The U.S. military has announced it has reduced the Houthis’ attack capabilities by more than half, in an operational update after six weeks of relentless airstrikes.
On Monday morning, the Houthis said a U.S. airstrike hit a prison holding African migrants, killing at least 68 people.
Newsweek has reached out to the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) and Houthi officials for comment.
Why It Matters
The army’s disclosure comes amid continued attacks by the Iran-backed group in Yemen and growing scrutiny over the operation’s effectiveness and its impact on civilians, as efforts to degrade Houthi capabilities remain ongoing.
President Donald Trump ordered a decisive military operation to protect maritime navigation after Houthi forces disrupted international shipping lanes in the Red Sea, Bab el-Mandeb Strait, and Gulf of Aden with repeated attacks.
What To Know
U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said two carrier strike groups “have effectively delivered precise and lethal strikes against Houthi military capabilities.”
According to CENTCOM, ballistic missile launches against U.S. vessels have dropped by 69 percent, while drone strikes have fallen by 55 percent. The strikes have destroyed key command facilities, air defenses, and weapons sites, including those storing advanced missiles and drones used in attacks on international shipping lanes.
Houthi forces have launched missiles and drones at two U.S. aircraft carriers operating in the region—the Harry S. Truman and the Carl Vinson. No damage was reported to the carriers and they have continued supporting operations aimed at degrading Houthi capabilities in Yemen.
Today, GEN Michael Erik Kurilla, USCENTCOM Commander, embarked the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) and thanked the Sailors for their professionalism, competence, and dedication in support of continuous operations against the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen. pic.twitter.com/sQVtHBtnpn
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) April 27, 2025
Houthis Claim U.S. Airstrike Hits Prison
On Monday, the Yemeni group, also known as Ansar Allah, reported dozens of casualties in a U.S. airstrike on a prison in the Saada province, holding more than a hundred African migrants. Graphic footage of bodies and injured people under rubble were published by Houthi-controlled media Al-Masirah TV. The reports have not been confirmed by the U.S. or watchdogs.
U.S. senators and activists have raised concerns over the growing civilian toll in the aftermath of an airstrike on Ras Isa port, in which dozens of civilians were reportedly killed. “We are very deliberate in our operational approach but will not reveal specifics about what we’ve done or what we will do,” CENTCOM stated Monday, before the alleged strike on the Saada detention center.
According to CENTCOM, precision strikes have targeted over 800 Houthi positions and killed hundreds of fighters and leaders, including senior missile and UAV officials. The group has confirmed over 200 military officers and fighters were killed over the past month. The Houthis have continued mobilizing forces and supporters against the U.S. and Israel.
What People Are Saying
U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM): “Since March 15, U.S. Central Command (USCENTCOM) forces have conducted an intense and sustained campaign targeting the Houthi terrorist organization in Yemen to restore freedom of navigation and American deterrence. These operations have been executed using detailed and comprehensive intelligence ensuring lethal effects against the Houthis while minimizing risk to civilians. We will continue to ratchet up the pressure until the objective is met, which remains the restoration of freedom of navigation and American deterrence in the region.”
Houthi-controlled Yemeni Interior Ministry, as quoted by Al-Masirah Channel in Arabic: “The U.S. administration bears full responsibility for the heinous crime against African migrants. Targeting civilians and innocent migrants is a crime added to the record of U.S. crimes against the Yemeni people and humanity at large.”
Democratic Senators Chris Van Hollen, Elizabeth Warren and Tim Kaine wrote to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Thursday: “The reported high civilian casualty numbers from U.S. strikes in Yemen demonstrate a serious disregard for civilian life, and call into question this Administration’s ability to conduct military operations in accordance with U.S. best practices for civilian harm mitigation and international law.”
What Happens Next
The fighting is expected to intensify over coming weeks as the Houthis have vowed retaliation operations in defiance to U.S. strikes.
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