US airstrikes kill six amid ongoing Yemen conflict

Yemen faced renewed violence as suspected U.S. airstrikes targeted locations around Sanaa, the rebel-controlled capital. On April 14, 2025, the Houthis reported that at least six people were killed and thirty others were wounded during these overnight strikes. The attacks occurred in the context of an intensified military campaign under President Donald Trump, which began on March 15, 2025, in response to increased Houthi assaults on maritime shipping in the Red Sea. The Houthis claimed responsibility for shooting down another American MQ-9 Reaper drone during this time, marking the fourth instance of such an event in two weeks. Reports indicate that this militarized response comes after a series of hostilities in which Houthis targeted over one hundred vessels between November 2023 and January 2025, resulting in two sunk ships and several casualties among sailors. The U.S. military has not acknowledged the airstrikes but has conducted more than 200 operations against the Houthis, focusing not only on missile launch sites but also on leadership figures and urban locations, marking a significant shift in strategy from the previous administration. The humanitarian impact of the airstrikes has raised alarms, as over 120 people are reported dead, according to Houthi health sources, worsening conditions in a country already experiencing dire humanitarian crises. The escalating conflict has severely affected the civilian population and stoked fears of broader regional instability due to the ongoing tensions linked to the Israel-Hamas conflict, further complicating peace efforts and humanitarian aid deliveries.