US Airstrike in Yemen Leaves African Migrants Dead Amid Ongoing Conflict**

Recent reports indicate that at least 68 African migrants were killed in a US airstrike on a detention facility in Houthi-controlled Yemen. This incident adds to the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the region, with conflicting narratives surrounding military operations and civilian safety.**

At least 68 African migrants have been reported killed following a US air strike on a detention centre in Saada province, Yemen, according to claims made by Houthi-run media outlet Al Masirah. In addition, Al Masirah stated that 47 individuals suffered injuries, many critically, as the facility was bombed early on a Monday morning. Graphic footage circulating online showed first responders recovering bodies from the debris of the destroyed building.

While a US defense official confirmed awareness of the civilian casualty claims, they did not immediately validate the reports. Central Command acknowledged that this strike was part of an intensified air campaign against the Houthis, initiated by President Donald Trump on March 15, which has already seen more than 800 targets struck.

Witness accounts from the site and local hospital statements paint a grim picture, with survivors describing the attack as occurring while they slept. Ibrahim Cabdulqaadir Macallin, chairman of the Somali community in Yemen, noted the tragic aftermath and indicated that while a small number of Somali migrants were killed, most of the casualties were Ethiopian nationals.

Condemnation of what the Houthis termed a "deliberate bombing” followed, labeling it a "war crime." The US Central Command has stated it takes claims of civilian casualties seriously and is currently conducting an inquiry. The IOM expressed sadness over the loss of life and reiterated the need for all conflict parties to prioritize civilian protection.

Despite risks, reports indicate that migrants continue to arrive in Yemen, fleeing instability in the Horn of Africa. Many aim to reach neighboring Saudi Arabia for work, but face exploitation, violence, and detention. In 2024 alone, nearly 60,900 migrants have reached Yemen, most of them being Ethiopians and Somalis, often subjected to appalling conditions in detention centers.

Earlier, reports suggested at least 66 casualties from a strike by the Saudi-led coalition on a detention facility near the latest incident. In another aggravating factor, US airstrikes reportedly killed at least 74 individuals at the Ras Isa oil terminal, further escalating tensions in the area.

Amid the conflict, the Houthis responded to US operations targeting them with missile and drone attacks on American naval forces in the region, claiming such actions are a retaliation against what they describe as aggression towards civilians. The dynamics of the ongoing conflict have heightened anxieties, with humanitarian outcomes remaining desperate, as Yemen faces millions in need of aid.

As the situation evolves, the humanitarian crisis worsens, underlining the complexities of military engagements that intertwine with civilian safety and migrant struggles, presenting multiple perspectives in this ongoing calamity.