By Lumine
LONDON / WASHINGTON D.C. In a major escalation of the Yemen conflict, British warplanes joined U.S. forces in a coordinated wave of airstrikes late Tuesday night, marking the first UK combat operation in Yemen since President Donald Trump returned to office in January.
The strike, according to the British Ministry of Defence, hit “a cluster of buildings” 15 miles south of Sanaa, allegedly used by the Houthi movement (Ansar Allah) to assemble drones for attacks in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.
While the UK previously supported U.S. strikes under the Biden administration, Tuesday’s operation signals a renewed and expanded British military engagement under Trump as the region’s violence intensifies.
“The strike was conducted after dark, when the likelihood of any civilians being in the area was reduced,” the British ministry stated. However, no official casualty figures have been released.
Meanwhile, Yemen’s SABA news agency denounced the operation as “U.S.-British aggression” and reported that airstrikes hit multiple locations, including Sanaa, Saada, and Al Jawf. Civilian homes were allegedly damaged in the capital, but the full extent of the destruction remains unclear.
The airstrikes are part of a larger and increasingly aggressive U.S. bombing campaign in Yemen. Since mid-March, the Pentagon confirms over 1,000 airstrikes, though no breakdown of specific targets or casualty data has been publicly disclosed.
One of the deadliest incidents to date reportedly occurred Monday, when a U.S. strike hit an African migrant detention center in Saada, killing at least 68 people. If verified, it would be the single deadliest attack since the renewed bombing began.
According to the independent Yemen Data Project, from March 15 to April 22, U.S. airstrikes have killed at least 158 civilians and wounded 342. With the addition of Monday’s incident, the death toll could now exceed 226.
Despite the rising civilian toll, the Trump administration shows no signs of backing down. Houthi leaders have stated they are willing to halt attacks on U.S. ships if American airstrikes cease, but Washington has not responded. The Houthis continue linking their military actions to Israel’s ongoing war in Gaza, vowing to end their blockade of Israeli shipping only if a ceasefire is declared.
As the conflict expands and international outcry grows, critics question the strategic value and human cost of the sustained U.S.-UK military campaign in Yemen.
