On April 18th, 2025 US airstrikes targeted Yemen’s Ras Isa oil port, killing 74 people and injuring 171, according to Yemen’s Houthi militants. The attack, the deadliest in President Donald Trump’s campaign that began March 15th, sent massive fireballs into the sky, escalating tensions in the Red Sea region and drawing global criticism.

Details & Context

Late Thursday night, US forces struck the Ras Isa oil port in Yemen’s Hodeida governorate, a key Houthi-controlled facility. The attack ignited fuel trucks, causing explosions and fires visible from space, as confirmed by NASA satellite imagery. The Houthis’ Health Ministry reported 74 deaths including port workers and paramedics and 171 injuries, marking the strike as the deadliest in Trump’s ongoing campaign against the Iran-backed group.

The US Central Command (CENTCOM) said the strike aimed to cut off the Houthis’ fuel supply which funds their attacks on Red Sea shipping. However, CENTCOM did not confirm civilian casualties or release details about the campaign’s targets, making it hard to verify the toll. The Houthis, who control access to struck areas, released graphic footage showing bodies and wreckage, claiming the attack hit civilian infrastructure.

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Key points of the incident

·      Location: Ras Isa oil port, Hodeida near Kamaran Island, a critical Red Sea hub.

·      Casualties: 74 killed, 171 wounded, per Houthi reports including civilians and workers.

·      US Objective: Disrupt Houthi fuel revenue used for attacks on US and Israeli-linked ships.

·      Houthi Response: The group fired a missile at Israel on April 18th, intercepted by Israeli defences, signalling retaliation.

·      Global Context: The strikes tie to US efforts to pressure Iran’s nuclear program and counter Houthi disruptions of $1 trillion in Red Sea trade.

The Houthis who seized Yemen’s capital, Sanaa in 2015 have attacked over 190 ships since October 2023, sinking two and killing four sailors in solidarity with Palestinians over Israel’s Gaza blockade. Trump’s campaign, unlike Biden’s, targets Houthi leaders and urban sites, not just launch zones, escalating the conflict.

Quotes

·      Houthi Spokesperson: “This US attack on our oil port is a crime against Yemen’s people, targeting a vital civilian facility.”

·      US Central Command: “We struck to stop Houthi terror funding, not to harm Yemenis seeking peace.”

·      Local Worker in Hodeida: “The explosion shook our homes. We saw fire everywhere and lost friends at the port.”

Additional Information

The Ras Isa port, linked to an oil pipeline from Marib has been a Houthi revenue source since Yemen’s war halted exports. The port’s destruction worsens Yemen’s humanitarian crisis where 18 million people face food insecurity, per UN data. Since March 15th, 2025 over 200 US strikes have hit Yemen, killing at least 100, though Houthi secrecy and CENTCOM’s silence obscure the true toll.

On April 9th, the US State Department warned against oil shipments to Houthi ports, labelling them support for terrorism. The Houthis, part of Iran’s “Axis of Resistance” with Hamas and Hezbollah, resumed ship attacks in March 2025 after Israel blocked Gaza aid, ending a January ceasefire. Posts on X show outrage, with users calling the Ras Isa strike a “war crime” and questioning US motives.

The US also accused a Chinese satellite company of aiding Houthi attacks, a claim Beijing dodged while Iran’s Revolutionary Guards denied controlling the Houthis. Israel, which struck Ras Isa previously, intercepted a Houthi missile on April 18th, highlighting the war’s regional spread.

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Impact Analysis

·      Humanitarian Crisis: The port’s destruction cuts fuel access, spiking prices and worsening hunger for Yemen’s 18 million in need.

·      Red Sea Trade: Houthi attacks and US strikes disrupt $1 trillion in shipping, forcing reroutes around Africa.

·      US-Iran Tensions: The campaign, linked to Iran’s nuclear talks, risks broader conflict with Trump threatening Tehran.

·      Civilian Toll: 74 deaths and 171 injuries deepen Yemen’s suffering, with graphic Houthi footage fuelling global backlash.

·      Houthi Resilience: Despite losses, the Houthis’ underground arsenals sustain their attacks, frustrating US goals.

The US airstrike on Yemen’s Ras Isa oil port, killing 74, marks a grim escalation in Trump’s campaign against the Houthis. While aimed at curbing their Red Sea attacks, the strike’s civilian toll and damage to vital infrastructure have sparked condemnation and heightened regional tensions. With Yemen’s humanitarian crisis worsening and the Houthis vowing retaliation, urgent diplomacy is needed to halt the violence and restore stability. The world must prioritise Yemen’s people over geopolitical games.

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