UK and US forces target Houthi drone manufacturing site in Yemen

Wednesday 30 April 2025 - 11:04

By: Zahouani Ilham

UK and US forces target Houthi drone manufacturing site in Yemen

On Tuesday, US and British forces conducted a coordinated military operation in Yemen, targeting a facility associated with the Houthi rebels. The operation aimed at a military target responsible for the production of drones, similar to those used in attacks on maritime shipping. The UK Ministry of Defence confirmed the operation and emphasized that the drone manufacturing site posed a direct threat to shipping in the Red Sea.

President Donald Trump had previously ordered an escalation of US military strikes on Houthi forces in Yemen, particularly after a series of drone and missile attacks targeted shipping routes in the region. The US has committed to continuing its actions against the Iran-backed Houthi rebels, stressing the importance of securing international trade routes.

In the past, the US and UK have collaborated on military operations in Yemen, with the most recent one involving a strike on a facility about 15 miles (24 km) south of Yemen's capital, Sanaa. This site was identified as a key location for drone production, used to target ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. Details regarding casualties from the operation were not disclosed.

Houthi-controlled media reported a separate incident, claiming a US airstrike on a detention center for African migrants killed 68 individuals. The US military has acknowledged the claim and is investigating the incident, with officials stressing their ongoing assessment of civilian casualties.

The US has reportedly struck more than 800 targets since mid-March, targeting Houthi fighters and infrastructure. The latest strike at an oil terminal in mid-April was one of the deadliest, with 74 casualties reported by the Houthi-run health ministry.

The Houthis have maintained control over large areas of Yemen in recent years, and since November 2023, they have targeted vessels in the Red Sea. They justify these actions by claiming to target ships associated with Israel, citing their support for Palestinians amidst the ongoing conflict in Gaza. The violence has been exacerbated by the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas, which began in October 2023.